What entertainment to book in advance?

My wife and I are holidaying (1st time Japan) in this coming October and November. We are keen to see and do the usual tourism BUT we also like to see Shows and Entertainment and maybe once or twice to dine well.

My question is: What shows / Entertainment / Restaurants should we book in advance?

In Tokyo 3.10 - 12.10, we already have tickets for DisneySea and TeamLab Borderless. Will buy tickets for the Samurai show soon.

In Kyoto 20.10- 28.10, we already have tickets for reserved seats for the Jidai Matsuri. Booked online.
Soon to buy tickets for the Hozugawa River Boat Ride and the Sagano Scenic Railway.

In Osaka 2.11- 6.11, we already have tickets for TeamLab Botanical Garden and Universal Studios.


Any unique/fun/delicious dining experiences are also of interest.
We left it too late for: The Pizza Bar on the 38th Floor of the Mandarin Oriental in Tokyo, Monk in Kyoto and Ajinoya Honten in Osaka.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

Ronzac

I don't know your favorite musician, but I liked live houses such as Blue Note and Billboard Live (I went to Tokyo and Osaka).
It seems that there are many Japanese musicians in Billboard Live these days.
https://www.bluenote.co.jp/jp/
https://www.billboard-live.com/membersarea/international/
I think Cotton Club is also good.
https://www.cottonclubjapan.co.jp/jp/
If you want to see something on the day, I think it is good to use TKTS.
https://tkts.tokyo/en
It may also be good to use Single Act Seats(Makumi-seki) at Kabukiza.
https://www.e-tix.jp/shochiku_makumi/en/
If the Single Act Seats are crowded, there is a high possibility of standing.

Not sure this is what you are looking for or if it requires reservation, but. you might be interested in Gion Corner … they do shows exhibiting traditional Japanese performing arts (Geisha performances etc.)

Also not what you are looking for, but worth mentioning if you are planning to visig Saihoji “the moss temple” it requires advanced booking.

No need for reservation in Kyoto station they have a light show on the steps in the enormous atrium space … the show runs every 20 minutes or something like that.

HI haro1210 and PatrickSF,

Wow! Wow! It's a great day thanks to you both.

From the Billboard link haro1210 sent, I found the theatre listings and have booked the NON-VERBAL THEATER 'GEAR' evening show on the 24.10.

Unusual entertainment is something we are interested in.

I will keep a look out for when the Kabukicho Theatre Tokyo is on in October. Ditto for the Kabukia Theatre. The TKTS link is worthwhile too. Thanks.


From the tip from PatrickSF, I have booked the Shoji (Moss Temple) visit on the morning of 24.10.

The Gion Corner is already on my list. :-) We will go to the Kyoto station to see the Lights on the stairwell show too.

Thanks again for assisting my Japan plans.

Cheers

Ronzac

I forgot that GEAR continued after COVID-19.
In Kyoto, Butoh also had a permanent stage, but it was closed due to COVID-19.
The Robot restaurant in Shinjuku was also closed, but it seems to have revived as a samurai restaurant in the daytime.
https://samurai-restaurant.tokyo/reservation/index.php
The Ninja restaurant in Akasaka also seems to be open continuously.
https://ninja-tokyo.jp/en/

It's not entertainment, but I'm interested in the store and inn of Sebastian Masuda, who used to produce KAWAII MONSTER CAFE.
https://rooms.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/
https://shop.6dokidoki.com/
It seems that KAWAII MONSTER CAFE sometimes holds events.
You can see the information on X (Twitter).
https://x.com/KAWAIIMONSTERCA?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7...

Hi haro1210, thanks again for your replies. The Samurai show is a definite. Weird, Crazy, Over-the-Top entertainment once or twice in our 5 weeks holiday is Ok. Ta for link to the official site. I will book it tomorrow.

I looked at the Ninja Restaurant show + meal and we decided it's not for us.

The shop link got my wife interested - no surprise! We will keep a look out for what's on at the Monster Cafe - could be a laugh or two.

Cheers

Ronzac

Dear Ronzac,

for Kyoto, how about "MENBAKA Kyoto Fire Ramen"? http://fireramen.com/menbaka/index.html
They don't take reservations, so get a seat are more "trial and error", but it looks great.

If you are visiting the Traditional Arts Performance at "Gion Corner", there are the newly opened "Gion Kagai Art Museum" nearby, which are a Geiko (Geisha) and Maiko Museum. You can book a short Maiko Dance Performance also there.

Greetings,
Vio

If there is Bunraku at tge national theatre in Osaka while you are there it’s a great experience
https://www.ntj.jac.go.jp/schedule/bunraku/2024/611/?&lan=e

As is kabuki in Tokyo or Kyoto

Thanks VIO and LikeBike,

Menbaka is a definite and not over priced.
The website is brilliant and the restaurant is only a couple of bus rides from our Hotel Forza. We'll go and wait in the queue! Ta for link. Maybe it is near some tourism activity and we can combine a couple of things.

We will consider the Maiko Dance performance too.

Thanks for the link to Bunraku. This could be one of the highlights of our holiday. Website is very informative. I found a couple of videos in YOUTUBE to get an idea of what Bunraku actually is. Will also check out Kabuki.

Thanks again.

Cheers

Ronzac

Dear Ronzac,

maybe you could combine your visit at Menbaka with a visit of Nijo Castle as this are nearby.

Greetings,
Vio

Thanks Vio, I will check out the castle and maybe add it to the restaurant BRUNCH experience.

The Diners’s protective clothing at the restaurant will be worth photographing.

I’ll probably also find other things worth seeing between hotel and restaurant.

Cheers

Ronzac.