The Glorious Years of Kabuki and Geisha in the Entertainment District of Asakusa

Today Asakusa is a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors with the magnificent Sensoji, Tokyo’s oldest temple, and th e su rrounding maze of small merch ant streets exuding Edo er a char m (1603-1868). While Asakusa developed as a temple town in its early days, and later as a trade center for a diverse group of artisans and merchants, the district’s true heyday occurred during the Edo period. This was mainly due to the large concentration of venues devoted to the performing arts and resident artists. In the mid-19th century, many teahouses and actors’ residences along with three of the most prominent kabuki theatres and two puppet theatres, were relocated to Asakusa, forming Saruwakacho, the largest performing arts district in Edo. Behind these relocation measures was the shogunate’s desire to sequester the pleasure districts of the urban class from the central parts of the city, Asakusa being an outlying suburb of Edo. But the effect was precisely the opposite: this led to the birth of a new type of geisha entertainer originating from these theatrical teahouses who, together with geisha from the two other locations in the area, greatly boosted Asakusa’s popularity, enhancing its reputation as a bustling center of urban culture . Today the theaters in the Saruwakacho quar ters no longer exist, yet the remaining Asakusa Kagai geisha district, annual New Year kabuki performances, and numerous artisan workshops still serve to remind us of Asakusa’s enduring greatness as Tokyo’s most significant performing arts district.

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Premium Kabuki and Geisha Experiences to Discover the Renowned Legacy of Asakusa’s Performing Arts

In the Footsteps of Asakusa’s Vibrant Kabuki Heritage

Although the former Saruwakacho kabuki district no longer exists, there are many vestiges of the glorious kabuki years to be found throughout Asakusa. Many are hidden around the corners of small back alleys, within shrine grounds and even behind Sensoji Temple itself. The best way to uncover the secrets of Asakusa’s kabuki heritage is to follow a kabuki professional (either a current actor or a stagehand), who will guide visitors around the neighborhood’s historical spots and introduce artisans who have a deep connection to the performing art. The highlight of this expedition is an introduction to the mysteries of kabuki stage makeup and basic performance styles. Visitors will even have the opportunity to apply the makeup and try their hand at performing themselves.

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Exploring the Enchanting World of Asakusa Kagai’s Geisha

Asakusa is currently one of the six remaining Kagai districts (geisha districts) in Tokyo. The art of entertaining guests through traditional Japanese dances and musical performances originated in pleasure districts such as Yoshiwara, but from as early as the 17th century a clear distinction was made between pleasure girls and sophisticated geisha entertainers. Today Asakusa Kagai is the only place in Japan to include not only female geisha, but also 6 hokan (male entertainers). There are several traditional teahouses and restaurants where visitors can enjoy the perfection of the geisha’s skills. The so-called “ozashiki” experience is a unique opportunity to admire the performances of Asakusa’s geisha up close during a traditional dinner in a refined Japanese restaurant. For foreign visitors, private guidance is provided in order to facilitate communication with the geisha and navigate the etiquette of the Kagai district. To fully experience the art of geisha, it is highly recommended to interact and engage with them. Their mastery of the craft includes offering unparalleled hospitality through anticipating the guest’s mood and preferences while performing traditional dances, playing musical instruments, serving drinks, and having engaging conversations, all within the intimate setting of a tatami room.

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Geisha and Tea Ceremony! Experience traditional Japanese Culture in Asakusa

A special experience plan where you can learn about authentic tea ceremony and interact with Asakusa geisha. In the first half of the tour, you will have tea made by geisha. In the second half, with a guidance by a tea ceremony teacher, you will drink the tea made by yourself. A professional teacher will teach you carefully in a small group, and you can also take pictures with the geisha.

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Asakusa Geisha
Entertaining Guests with their Artistic Performance and Passing Down the Treasured Geisha Culture to Future Generations

Asakusa Map
Asakusa’s Must Visit Places Related to Kabuki and Geisha

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Asakusa has prospered for over 400 years as the cultural center of the city, when Tokyo was still called Edo.  Each person and every shop has a vibrant history, awaiting for you to discover.