Private Experience · Kitaryu Oshima Noh Theatre

Private Noh Theatre Experience with a Female Noh Performer

⏱ 90 minutes 👥 1–15 guests, one private group 🗣 English (interpreter accompanies the session) 🕙 Starts 10:00 or 16:00 ☔ Fully indoor — held rain or shine

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¥68,000 per group (1–15 guests), tax included

The experience

Step into the world of Noh, Japan's oldest living theatre art with over 650 years of history, in this private 90-minute experience at Kitaryu Oshima Noh Theatre in Fukuyama. Your guide is a professional female Noh performer, a true rarity in this traditionally male art form, assisted by an English interpreter throughout.

From the audience seats, learn the history of Noh and the symbolism of the stage. Then take part yourself: chant a Noh song (utai) with a romanized script, and watch a live shimai dance performance up close. Step onto the actual Noh stage to learn the performer's posture (kamae) and the famous gliding walk (suriashi), and try making sounds with the Noh flute and hand drum. Selected guests can even wear an authentic Noh mask and experience the performer's narrow field of vision. After commemorative photos on stage, admire magnificent Noh costumes and instruments with expert commentary, and finish with a short film and Q&A.

All equipment, including tabi socks, fans, instruments and masks, is provided. This is a private experience exclusively for your group of 1 to 15 people.

Your Guide

A woman on the Noh stage

For most of its 650-year history, Noh has been performed almost exclusively by men. Every session of this experience is led by a professional female Noh performer — one of the few women active in this art today — offering a perspective on Noh that very few visitors ever encounter.

An English-speaking interpreter accompanies the entire session, so every explanation, story and answer reaches you in full.

A professional female Noh performer in traditional attire

Glimpses

Full view of the Noh stage at Kitaryu Oshima Noh Theatre during a performance — The historic stage, reserved for your group alone

The Noh performer dancing shimai with a golden fan on stage — Watch a shimai dance performed just for you

The performer presenting an authentic Noh mask — Meet the Noh masks up close — and try one on

An ornate golden Noh fan painted with classical figures — Handle the exquisite tools of the art

Illustration of children trying the Noh hand drum on stage with a performer — Guests of all ages can try the hand drum (illustrative image)

Illustration of a family trying the Noh flute on stage with a performer — Trying the Noh flute together (illustrative image)

Your 90 Minutes

Moment by moment

0:00–0:20
From the audience seats on the second floor, an introduction to Noh and the symbolism of the stage
0:20–0:30
Chant a Noh song (utai) together, with a romanized script provided
0:30–0:35
Watch a live shimai dance performance up close
0:35–1:05
On the Noh stage: learn the performer's posture (kamae) and gliding walk (suriashi), try the Noh flute and hand drum, and selected guests try on an authentic Noh mask
1:05–1:10
Commemorative photos on the Noh stage
1:10–1:20
Admire magnificent Noh costumes and instruments with expert commentary
1:20–1:30
A short film about Noh, followed by Q&A

What's included

✓Private 90-minute session led by a professional Noh performer
✓English-speaking interpreter
✓Use of tabi socks and Noh fans
✓Noh flute and hand drum sound experience
✓Noh mask try-on for selected participants
✓Romanized chanting scripts

Not included

—Transportation to and from the venue
—Food and drinks
—Gratuities

Access & meeting point

Please gather at the main entrance of Kitaryu Oshima Noh Theatre (2-2-2 Konan-cho, Fukuyama), about a 15-minute walk or a short 5-minute taxi ride from the south exit of JR Fukuyama Station. Your host will welcome you at the entrance.

Venue: Kitaryu Oshima Noh Theatre（喜多流大島能楽堂）
Address: 2-2-2 Konan-cho, Fukuyama, Hiroshima 720-0814, Japan
Getting there: 15-minute walk or 5-minute taxi ride from the south exit of JR Fukuyama Station
From Hiroshima: From Hiroshima Station, take the San'yo Shinkansen east to Fukuyama Station — about 25 minutes. Fukuyama is also on the direct Shinkansen route between Hiroshima and Kyoto / Osaka, making the experience an easy stopover.

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Before you go

※The theatre is fully indoors — the experience takes place in comfort whatever the weather
※Guests remove their shoes before entering the theatre; tabi socks are provided when you arrive at the second-floor auditorium
※Mask try-on is limited to two or three representatives of the group
※Please note the historic theatre is not wheelchair accessible — the entrance cannot accommodate wheelchairs, and the auditorium is on the second floor, reached by stairs
※Please arrive 10 minutes before the start time
※Photography is permitted during the designated photo session

Cancellation: free of charge until 7 days before; 50% from 6–3 days before; 100% from 2 days before (including no-show). See the Booking Terms for details.