Rakugo - Japanese Storytelling and Where to Find It in Tokyo

In Japan, there are plenty of entertaining traditional performance arts other than Kabuki and Nō. One of those is "Rakugo", which we'll introduce to you here.

What is Rakugo?

Rakugo is a Japanese storytelling art carried down from the 17th century. It has been passed down as an art for the general populace over the years, up until now.

Below are the main characteristics of rakugo:
1）There is only one performer, and that performer plays all the roles.
2）The performer guides the story along using hand and body gestures.
3）The performers express all sorts of things using just a hand towel and fan.

Watching a rakugo performer fully become a woman, child, warrior, or sales person is the best part. You'll be able to enjoy the show even if you don't understand what the performers are saying. Don't think about it too much though, just check it out!

Performance Halls: Places Where You Can Enjoy Rakugo

You can see rakugo in performance halls and vaudeville halls specifically designed for rakugo performances. Here we will recommend some places where even first-timers can enjoy rakugo.

Asakusa Performance Hall

Travelers from all over the world gather to view rakugo shows at this performance hall in Asakusa. This location opened its doors in 1964, the same year the Tokyo Olympics were held in Tokyo.

As this is a relatively new performance hall, it has deep ties with television and media, which are helping it run up to today. Here you can catch not just rakugo performances, but also comedy shows among various types of entertainment programs.

Performances run from 11:30-16:30 in the afternoon, and from 16:40-21:00 in the evening.

Information

Asakusa Performance Hall

Address: 1-43-12 Asakusa, Taito ward, Tokyo
Holidays: Open Year Round
Nearest Station: Tsukuba Express Asakusa Station, Tokyo Metro Ginza Line Asakusa Station, TOBU Isesaki Line Asakusa Station, Toei Asakusa Line Asakusa Station
Access: Immediate from Tsukuba Express Asakusa Station
6-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Ginza Line Asakusa Station
6-minute walk from TOBU Isesaki Line Asakusa Station
8-minute walk from Toei Asakusa Line Asakusa Station
Price: General Admission 2,800 yen
Students 2,300 yen
Children（4 and under）1,500 yen
Telephone Number: 03-3841-6545
Official Homepage: Asakusa Performance Hall

Shinjuku Suehirotei

This long-established performance hall with over 100 years of history has been running since 1897. This entertainment hall's store front is a little rare, even in this town with a long-standing traditional entertainment halls.

The afternoon shows are from 12:00 to 16:30, while the evening shows are from 17:00 to 21:00.

Once you pay the entrance fee, you can stay from the afternoon portion straight into the night portion as well (some exceptions may apply). You can go in and out of the hall freely, but it is recommended that you do it in between shows, in order not to disturb the other audience members.

You also don't need to worry about getting hungry during the shows. Aside from beer, inside the hall you can have food and drinks, and there are also bentos being sold at the hall. You will feel like you've stepped back into the Edo period at Shinjuku Suehirotei!

You can purchase tickets at the ticket window, which is located outside, next to the entrance.

Information

Shinjuku Suehirotei

Address: 3-6-12 Shinjuku ward, Tokyo
Business Hours: 12:00-21:00
Holidays: December 30th, 31st
Nearest Station: Tokyo Metro Shinjuku Sanchome Station
Access:ss1-minute walk from Shinjuku Sanchome Station
Price: General Admission 3,000 yen
Students 2,500 yen
Elementary School Students 2,000 yen
Seniors(65 and up) 2,700 yen
Telephone Number: 03-3351-2974
Official Homepage: Shinjuku Suehirotei

Suzumoto Entertainment Hall

Having opened its doors in 1857, this performance hall also has a bit of history under its belt. This rakugo entertainment hall is one of the oldest buildings in the area, having recovered from numerous fires and air raids.

Afternoon shows run from 12:00 to 16:30, and evening shows run from 17:00 to 20:40. There is a change from the afternoon portion to the evening portion, therefore if you intend to stay the whole day, you need to go out before the start of the second show.

What we would really like to draw attention to is the early morning shows. They run from 10:00 to 11:30 in the morning. You can enjoy the stages of up to four rakugo performers. Also, the price is an astonishing 500 yen! That's one fifth of the price of a typical performance.

If you want to enjoy a rakugo performance in a short amount of time, we definitely recommend you this hall.

Nearby you can also find Japan's first zoo, and aside from Ueno Zoo, there are several other leisure facilities in the area. How about checking out several of these activities when coming to Ueno?

Information

Suzumoto Entertainment Hall

Address: 2-7-12 Taito ward, Ueno
Business Hours: 12:00-8:40
Holidays: Irregular
Nearest Station: JR Ueno Station
Access: 10-minute walk from JR Ueno Station Shinobazuguchi Exit
Price: Elementary School Students 1,500 yen
Students 2,500 yen
General Admission 2,800 yen
Telephone: 03-3834-0311
Official Homepage: Suzumoto Entertainment Hall
All pictures from PIXTA