The theatre – my favourite place in Japan

This month’s subject for the Japan Blog Matsuri is My Favourite Place in Japan, so here goes with my entry.

My favourite place in Japan is the theatre, and you can find me there about once a month, most often at Takarazuka. However, over the Golden Week holidays at the start of May I managed to experience the other side of the footlights. The less than four years old Hyogo Performing Arts Center in Nishinomiya, Hyogo decided to hold their very first public backstage tour for a hundred or so lucky applicants. Lets let the photos do the talking:

Me on stage!


Colourful piping in the basement

A blurry look from the lighting booth

Storage space for seating

Looking down at the stage

Artists sign the walls

The full set may be found here on flickr.

In June or July they’ll be doing tours of the two smaller halls too, so keep watching their web page for your chance to participate!