Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
DANCE
The highly expressive avant-garde dance form of butō (or butoh), which originates from Japan, shouldn't be missed if
you're interested in modern dance. It can be minimalist, introspective, and often violent or sexually explicit. Butō aside,
there's a vast range of other types of dance shows staged in Tokyo, including ballet, tap and tango. It's also possible to
sometimes see geisha perform their beautiful dances (see box opposite).
17
Azabu Die Pratze ຑ෍σΟʔϓϥοπ 2F 1-26-6
Higashi-Azabu, Minato-ku T 03 5545 1385; Akabane-
bashi station. Small but highly important venue for butō,
experimental dance and theatre, located in an o ce block
near Tokyo Tower.
Plan B B1F Monark Nakano Building, 4-26-20 Yayoi-
chō, Nakano-ku T 03 3384 2051, W i10x.com/planb;
Nakano-Fujimichō station. Apart from dance or musical
performances, you might also catch documentary film
screenings or experimental music nights here.
Dairakudakan Kochūten େ᱈᱃؋ᆵதఱ B1 2-1-18
Kichijōji-Kitamachi, Musashinoshi, T 0422 214982,
W dairakudakan.com; Kichijōji station. The studio of
legendary butō troupe Dairakudakan; sometimes there
are joint productions here with visiting foreign dancers.
COMEDY
Tokyo's expat population is large enough to support a small number of English-language comedy nights.
Tokyo Comedy Store W www.tokyocomedy.com. For
comedy in English, the Tokyo Comedy Store hosts well-
attended shows at several venues across the city; there are
usually two or three performances per week. See website
for details. Tickets ¥500-1500.
Punchline Comedy Club W punchlinecomedy.com;
3F Pizza Express, 4-30-3 Jingūmae, Shibuya-ku T 03
5775 3894. The Punchline Comedy Club occasionally brings
top foreign talent to the city; with an event every month or
so. See website for details. Tickets ¥6500, or ¥8500 with
dinner buffet and two drinks.
CABARET BARS
A couple of cabaret bars host glitzy shows with drag queen performers in fabulous costumes. They usually open up around
an hour before the performance - plenty of time to get in the mood with a drink or three.
Kaguwa ߳࿨ 5-4-2 Roppongi, Minato-ku T 03 5414
8818, W kaguwa.com. Hidden away in the Roppongi back
alleys, and concealed with an unassuming facade of lanterns
and lacquer, this is Tokyo's prime cabaret venue, which puts
on a couple of performances most nights. Tickets ¥3500.
Kingyo ۚڕ 3-14-17 Roppongi, Minato-ku T 03 3478
3000, W kingyo.co.jp. Snazzy place putting on extremely
energetic “New Half ” (transsexual) shows. Tickets ¥5000.
Three performances per night; closed Mon.
CLASSICAL MUSIC AND OPERA
The city is well stocked with Western classical music venues, and there are usually one or two concerts every week,
either by one of Tokyo's several resident symphony orchestras or by a visiting group, as well as occasional performances
of opera. Concerts of traditional Japanese music, played on instruments such as the shakuhachi (flute), the shamisen
DINING WITH ROBOTS
Opened in 2012, the Robot Restaurant ( ϩʔϘοτϨετϥϯ ; 1-7-1 Kabukichō, Shinjuku-ku
T 03 3200 5500, W shinjuku-robot.com; Shinjuku station) is Tokyo's newest and zaniest
attraction, and provides a little trip back to the wild days before Japan's financial bubble burst.
It all starts at the entrance foyer, where there's nary an inch of regular, boring space -
everything glistens, shines, flashes or reflects. There's far more of the same heading down the
stairs to the trippy, video-screen-lined hall where you'll be sat with other excited tourists and
locals, and given a bentō set to scoff before the carnage commences. Though the website, and
plenty of YouTube clips, will give you a great idea of what to expect, the performances are far
more fun if you have no idea what's coming - for now, su ce it to say that dozens of robots,
scantily dressed girls, more LEDs than anyone could ever count, and a wall of roaring music are
on the cards. At around ¥5000 per head (including a light meal), it's not cheap, but most find it
worth every yen. Performances daily 7pm & 8.30pm, Mon-Sat also 10pm.
 
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