Yachiyoza

Yamaga is a town that flourished due to its distribution via water canals along the Kikuchi River, and as a hot springs resort during the Edo Period. A successful businessman at the time used these same resources to build Yachiyoza, a large style playhouse in 1910. Yachiyoza continued as a mainstay of the classic theatre in the Meiji and Taisho periods, but after it began to decline after the 1950s and was remade into a movie theatre. The playhouse then eventually closed in 1973 after the popularization of TVs.

Afterwards the building was abandoned until a city person donated funding to launch its restoration in 1987. After a large overhaul it was finally restored to its former glory as a playhouse in 2001.

Able to hold a capacity of 700 people, guests here will find square-theatre seats, box seats, a long raised “hanamaichi” center stage, historic adverts across the ceiling, a scene reminiscent of the kabuki playhouses depicted in vivid, ukiyo-e prints during the Edo Period. On non-performances days, the playhouse is open for tours where you can go behind the curtain, under the stage to see the revolving stage mechanism and elevator. To learn more you can also visit Yume-kogura, the adjacent building with history documents outlining Yachiyoza’s long life and the many elements of the stage.