cruisemom42,

Kabuki-za in GInza sells Makumi tickets for both matinee and evening performances. However, I’d recommend that you try a matinee show on weekdays if you want to get seated without waiting. As they have only 90 non-reserved seats (and 60 for standing), you may end up seeing a show by standing if you choose the last act in the evening.

Thank you!

One followup question: do they open the box office at a specific time during the day and sell out all of the makumi tickets then? Or is each batch sold only shortly before that act is scheduled to start?

The box office for Makumi usually sells Makumi tickets shortly before each show. However, if the program has multiple acts, people may buy tickets at once and continue watching. For Instance, the June Matinee program, “Shin Usuyuki Monogatari,” has 3 acts and people were able to purchase Makumi tickets for more than one act. Please see

www.kabuki-za.co.jp/english/program.html

shochiku.co.jp/play/…index.html

I’d recommend that you ask your hotel’s concierge to call Kabuki-za in advance in order to find out what time the box office starts selling Makumi tickets.

:-)

Edokko,

Those were good links for the Kabuki-za (and good questions from the OP).

Question: The July performances do not show the one act prices, just a total price. Does this mean you have to attend the entire the multi-act show?

Thanks.

Thanks Edokko, looks like we will try to figure out a way to work in a matinee performance. So much to do, so little time!

crytal,

>>> Question: The July performances do not show the one act prices, just a total price. Does this mean you have to attend the entire the multi-act show? <<<

The July performances do not show the one act prices just because Kabuki-za hasn’t updated the link. Kabuki-za gave me the following info over the phone.

1) July Matinee Performances

YOSHITSUNE SENBON ZAKURA Act 1 – Torii Mae: Performance time from 11:30AM – 12:15PM (on sale around 10:55AM), 600yen

YOSHITSUNE SENBON ZAKURA Act 2 – Yoshinoyama: Performance time from 12:50PM – 1:30PM (on sale around 12:25PM), 800yen

YOSHITSUNE SENBON ZAKURA Act 3 – Kawatsura Hogen Yakata: Performance time from 2:05PM – 3:15PM (on sale around 1:40PM), 1100yen

2) July Evening Performances

YASHA GA IKE: Performance time from 5:00PM – 6:40PM (on sale around 4:25PM), 1000yen

KOYA HIJIRI: Performance time from 7:25PM – 8:50PM (on sale around 6:50PM), 1500yen

PLEASE confirm the info before your visit through your hotel’s concierge.

cruisemom42, crytal,

>>> like we will try to figure out a way to work in a matinee performance. <<<

Are you guys going to see Kabuki in July? I’ve just noticed that the July Matinee Performances, “Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura,” have 3 acts with very famous Kabuki actors such as Ebizo and Tamasaburo. Also, many Japanese people looove Yoshitsune’s story. (Re Yoshitsune, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minamoto_no_Yoshitsune) Therefore, Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura may get more crowded than other Matinee performances as Japanese locals/tourists go to see Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura might purchase all 3 Acts in the morning AND would stay until the end of Act 3.

Additionally, both Ebizo and Tamasaburo would be in “Koya Hijiri,” one of the July Evening Performances.

Therefore, before visiting Kabuki-za, PLEASE ask your hotel’s concierge to call Kabuki-za’s box office to find out how crowded the July Matinee/Evening Performances has been. The box office should be able to give the further info re what time you should get there to purchase Makumi tickets if you want to get seated.

Good luck and enjoy Kabuki!!

:-)