Insight Guides Japan

Insight Guides

• Publisher: Insight
• ISBN:
  9781780059075
• Edition: 5
• Topic: Persönliche Entwicklung
• Subtopic: Reisen

One of the world's most captivating countries, Japan is a land of many fascinating contrasts, taking in some of the world's most futuristic cities alongside stunning natural landscapes and a wonderfully preserved ancient culture. Be inspired to visit by the fully-updated new edition of Insight Guide Japan, a comprehensive full-colour guide to this unique country.

Inside Insight Guide Japan:

A fully-overhauled edition by our knowledgable authors.
Stunning, specially-commissioned photography that brings this extraordinary country and its people to life.
Highlights of the country's top attractions, including the iconic Mount Fuji, Kyoto's 15th-century Ginkaku-ji Temple and Gardens, and Tokyo's coolest districts.
Descriptive region-by-region accounts cover the whole country from Hokkaido and Honshu to Shikoku and Kyushu in detail, and suggest excursions to the smaller surrounding islands.
Detailed, high-quality maps throughout will help you get around and travel tips give you all the essential information for planning a memorable trip, including our independent selection of the best places to eat.

About Insight Guides: Insight Guides has over 40 years' experience of publishing high-quality, visual travel guides. We produce around 400 full-colour print guide books and maps as well as picture-packed eBooks to meet different travellers' needs. Insight Guides' unique combination of beautiful travel photography and focus on history and culture together create a unique visual reference and planning tool to inspire your next adventure.
'Insight Guides has spawned many imitators but is still the best of its type.' - Wanderlust Magazine

Activities

The arts

Japan’s arts scene runs the gamut from traditional theatre such as kabuki and noh to cutting-edge contemporary art, with much of it made accessible to English-speakers in Tokyo. Most of the arts action is concentrated in the big cities, but Japan also has arty surprises waiting in some out-of-the-way places, most notably on the islands of the Seto Naikai (for more information, click here) and even on the rugged Sado Island (for more information, click here) off Niigata. For up-to-date listings of art shows and performances, check out the listings websites and magazines, click here.

Traditional theatre

Tokyo

Imperial Theatre

3-1-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku

Tel: [phone]

Classic plays, both old and contemporary.

Kabuki Theatre (Kabuki-za)

4-12-15 Ginza, Chuo-ku

Tel: [phone]

www.kabuki-za.co.jp

The country’s premier kabuki venue. Reopened after extensive renovations in 2013 and now boasting an English translation captioning system.

Meiji Theatre (Meiji-za)

2-31-1 Nihonbashi-Hamacho, Chuo-ku

Tel: [phone]

www.meijiza.co.jp

Mainstream modern plays and samurai dramas in Japanese only.

National Noh Theatre

4-18-1 Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku

Tel: [phone]

www.ntj.jac.go.jp

Only performed about once a week during the afternoon, so check beforehand. Japanese only.

National Theatre

4-1 Hayabusa-cho, Chiyoda-ku

Tel: [phone]

www.ntj.jac.go.jp

English-language summaries are included in programmes and headphone translations provided for the plots. Matinees begin at noon; evening performances from 4.40pm. When kabuki is not running, bunraku takes over.

Shimbashi Embujo

6-18-2 Ginza, Chuo-ku

Tel: [phone]

www.shinbashi-enbujo.co.jp

Lowbrow sword-and-sorcery samurai dramas.

Other cities

Gion Corner

Yasaka Hall, Kyoto. Along a pedestrian lane between Shijo-dori and Higashioji-dori

Tel: [phone]

www.kyoto-gioncorner.com

A daily digest of Japan’s performing arts (seven types in all). Very touristy, but worth it if you don’t have time for the real thing.

Kanze Kaikan

Niomon-dori, Kyoto

Tel: [phone]

www.kyoto-kanze.jp

Noh and kyogen performances in Kyoto’s main venue for this high-performance art.

Minami-za

Corner of Kawabata-dori and Shijo-dori in Gion, Kyoto

Tel: [phone]

Kyoto’s long-established kabuki theatre. December is the highlight, with a festival featuring all the big names in kabuki.

National Bunraku Theatre

Three-minute walk from Exit 7 of Nipponbashi Station on the Kintetsu or Sakaisuji subway lines, Osaka.

Tel: [phone]

www.ntj.jac.go.jp

Osaka’s great puppet traditions performed in the months of Jan, Apr and June–Aug only.

Osaka Noh Hall

A short walk east of Hankyu Umeda Station

Tel: [phone]

A full programme of noh dramas, including some free Saturday-morning performances.

Osaka Shochiku-za

9-19-1 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku

Tel: [phone]

www.shochiku.co.jp

Kabuki in a beautifully restored theatre beside Dotonbori Canal.

Other theatres

Tokyo

Session House

158 Yaraicho, Shinjuku-ku

Tel: [phone]

www.session-house.net

Experimental venue for Japanese and foreign solo dancers.

Tokyo Comedy Store

www.tokyocomedy.com

Lunatic antics, skits and satire from a group of English-speaking comedians, performed at venues all over Tokyo (see website for schedule).

Concert venues

Tokyo

Bunkamura Orchard Hall

2-24-1 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku 150

Tel: [phone]

www.bunkamura.co.jp/orchard

Classical musical performances.

Casals Hall

1-6 Kanda Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku

Tel: [phone]

www.nu-casalshall.com

Chamber music and small ensembles.

Nippon Budokan

2-3 Kitanomaru-koen, Chiyoda-ku

Tel: [phone]

www.nipponbudokan.or.jp

Major international rock and pop artists.

Suntory Hall

1-13-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku

Tel: [phone], ticket centre 0570-55-0017

www.suntory.com/culture-sports/suntoryhall

Classical music and opera.

Tokyo Opera City

3-20-2 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku

Tel: [phone]

www.operacity.jp/en

Opera and classical music.

Galleries

Tokyo

Design Festa Gallery

3-20-2 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku

Tel: [phone]

www.designfestagallery.com

Colourful freestyle art gallery in Harajuku that has become Tokyo’s main venue for up-and-coming young artists.

Mori Art Museum

6-10-1 Roppongi, 53F Roppongi Hills

Tel: [phone]

www.mori.art.museum

Top contemporary art from around the world in this sleek gallery atop...