Journey to the Theatrical Past of Dotonbori

Step into the world of Japanese theatre at the Dotonbori Museum Namikiza in Osaka. As you walk through the doors of this charming edifice, trace the 400-year-old history of Dotonbori, once a thriving theatre town. The museum pays tribute to the rich cultural heritage of this place, where masterpieces of Bunraku and Kabuki – traditional forms of Japanese puppet theatre and classical dance-drama were nurtured. The highlight of the museum is its focus on Shozo Namiki, a Kabuki playwright, to revive Dotonbori's theatrical legacy.

Choose Your Own Kabuki Adventure

Choose from one of the 3 courses – Taiken, Manabi, or Ikoi. The Taiken course offers a guided tour in Japanese, an authentic Kabuki actor transformation photo shoot, and an engaging Mawari-butai experience, which allows you to observe the complexities of traditional rotating stage mechanics. You will be accompanied by Tadanokitsunebu, a fox cub in human disguise, also a Kabuki enthusiast. The Manabi option includes a video presentation and quiz, testing your understanding of Kabuki, and the Ikoi option lets you take a self-guided tour of the museum at your own pace.