Mokubakan, Theater in Asakusa, Japan.

Mokubakan is a two-storey reinforced-concrete theatre in Asakusa, rebuilt in that form in December 1956. Its ground floor became the rōkyoku hall Mokubakan-tei in May 1970, while the upper floor has housed a popular-theatre (taishū engeki) company since July 1977. A replica of the wooden carousel horse that gave the building its name stands beside the ground-floor entrance.

The site opened in 1907 as the Tsūzoku Kyōiku Konchūkan, an insect museum founded by entomologist Nawa Yasushi to mark Japan's victory in the Russo-Japanese War. In 1918 management passed to the Negishi Kōgyōbu, and in 1922 a wooden horse carousel was installed on the ground floor, giving the building its name. The second floor became an Yasugi-bushi music hall in 1938, and the current two-storey reinforced-concrete building dates from 1956. Since July 1977 the second floor has housed a popular theatre.

The venue focuses on traditional Japanese performing arts with monthly programs featuring plays, songs, and dance throughout the year. The close seating arrangement between stage and audience shapes how people experience the performance and engage with the artists.

The theater sits within 10 minutes on foot from Asakusa Metro Station on the Ginza Line or 5 minutes from Tsukuba Express Station. This location makes it straightforward to visit and explore nearby areas.

The seating arrangement brings performers and audience into close proximity, which is uncommon in many traditional theaters. This closeness during shows creates a sense of immediate connection that shapes the experience.