Where can we enjoy theater and contemporary dance in Kansai, in Chubu, or anywhere West of Tokyo ? Although the offer is not as plentiful as in Kanto, there are a number of locations and occasions, and the diversity is there.
Theaters and other venues
– SPAC, Shizuoka, is one of the first public theaters established in Japan, and also features an international theater festival.
– Rohm Theatre, in Kyoto, has a year-round program which includes a number of foreign companies performances, in particular when it comes to contemporary dance. Regularly, performances in Tokyo or Yokohama travel to Rohm theater – Pina Bausch or Anna Teresa de Keersmaeker performed in Saitama and Kyoto, Damien Jalet at TMT and Rohm theater,
– Kyoto Art Center
– Kyoto Prefectoral Center for Art and Culture
– Theater E9 Kyoto
– The Aichi Arts Center in Nagoya includes the Aichi Prefectural Theater. A base for the Aichi Triennale festival, it also is home to Aichi Constellation, a contemporary dance project, aiming to connect the region to the international dancing scene. Hana SAKAI and Yasutake SHIMAJI, distinguished in Okada’s Dance Juror’s dance are members of the latter project, and very exciting pieces are offered.
– Bird Theater, Tottori, has a diverse offering of theater plays, and sometimes offer English support – and anyway during its festival.
– Art Theater db Kobe, aka Dance Box, runs several contemporary dance performances around the year, and acts as a cradle for creativity.
– Other performing arts related spaces in Kyoto : KAIKA, Atelier Gekken, SAKIRA, Art Space Urban Guild, Higashiyama Youth Activity Center
– In another style, Osaka is home to the all women Takarazuka review.
Festivals
– KEX – Kyoto Experiment (November)
– World Theater Festival Shizuoka (Golden Week, April-May)
– Bird Theatre Festival, Tottori (September)
– Aichi Triennale, Nagoya and Aichi pref. (Autumn)
– Enjoy Dance festival in Kobe (2026), March
Traditional performing arts
– Osaka is home of Joruri and Bunraku companies,
– Kyoto has a strong tradition in Noh. The Kyoto Kanze theatre, not far from Rohm theatre, offers monthly performance. Booking in English works (web and phone). Kyoto Prefectoral Art and Culture center also features traditional theater forms such as bunraku, rakugo and kabuki.
English focus, companies
– Theatre Iridescence, Nagoya
Recommended performances in 2026, West Japan
– April, theatre, Kara Juro The tin soldier, Jap., Kobe, Okayama
– June/July, theatre, The Camel, Jean Reno solo, French with Jap. sub.
– June, Dance, Il cimento dell armonia et dell invenzione, Anna Teresa de Keersmaeker, (24 in Nagoya, 27/28 in Kyoto)
– June, Much ado about nothing, Engl., Theater Iridescence, Nagoya
– Check also the blog, to make sure you do not miss anything.
To be further developped ! If you have proposals and suggestions, please share, to better represent the Western Japan performing arts scene.