Misono-za, Historic theatre in Naka Ward, Nagoya, Japan
Misono-za is a theatre building in Naka Ward, Nagoya, Japan, integrated into a modern high-rise complex with shops and apartments. The auditorium rises across several levels with galleries, all facing a stage equipped for rapid scene changes and traditional stage mechanisms.
The theatre opened in the late 19th century as a venue for classical Japanese stage performances and was destroyed during wartime. After another fire in the 1960s, it remained closed for decades until reconstruction efforts began in the early 21st century.
Theatregoers enter the hall through a lobby designed with traditional Japanese touches, where they pick up programs and souvenirs in paper bags bearing the dragonfly emblem. Performances draw both older regulars who remember earlier versions of the building and younger audiences discovering kabuki for the first time.
The venue sits a short walk from Fushimi Station, and visitors should arrive early to allow time for entry and finding seats. Subtitles in English and other languages are available for many performances, so it helps to ask staff when booking or arriving.
Two dragonflies in the emblem recall that the insect has been a symbol of good fortune in the region for centuries. Visitors often line up during intermissions for the ice desserts served in monaka wafers, sold at the snack counter.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
