I went to watch a single act of Kabuki in Tokyo at the Kabukiza Theatre (just above Higashi-Ginza station).
What is Kabuki? It is a traditional Japanese play-like art form with elaborate costumes and stage set ups.
You can watch Kabuki at several theatres in Japan. There are English audio guides for your listening. These audio guides come with an additional fee.
A whole performance has several acts. Each act is 20mins to as long as about 1.5hours. Each act is an entire story or dance on its own. You may purchase tickets to watch single acts instead of the whole performance.
Do note that the queue for single acts are on the left of the theatre at street level.
Details can be found on their website, which has English translation.
I decided that I was not willing to pay the full price of all the acts. And besides, I doubt I can get any tickets last minute. So I decided to watch a single act. Which act did I decide on? The one that was cheapest and longest in duration for that price. It was a 30mins dance act costing 500yen.
Look up the timings of when the single act tickets would be sold. Usually the single act tickets would be sold 30mins before the start of that act. There are 90seats and 60standing available. You may purchase to watch consecutive acts.
Timings and prices for the performances on my day.
Rules for purchasing single acts.
On a Sunday morning, I started queuing at 10am. The ticket sales start only at 1030am. However, I was the 89th person in line. Plan ahead if you decide to purchase single act tickets. The performance starts at 11am.
Since it is only a single act, I did not get the audio guide. Instead, I read the synopsis of the act beforehand and kind of memorised the act to better appreciate the act.
Synopsis of my act.
After purchasing your ticket, you directly proceed to take the lift up to the 4th floor. The seats are the very last 2 rows of the theatre. You are arranged by your number. Then you enter the theatre.
It is free seating. Choose a seat if available. If there are belongings on the seat, that seat is not available. You may put down your things on your seat then go for toilet break. That’s actually why there are belongings on the seat when you first entered; the people went to the toilet.
Or you can choose to stand behind the last row to enjoy the performance.
The view from my seat. 
There are some other things to do at this theatre/building as well.
1. There are souvenir shops at basement 2. This is the same floor when you exit the Higashi-Ginza station.
2. There is a Kabuki Gallery at level 5. Follow the signs at basement 2 to the lift that brings you there. Do note that there is a fee to visit the gallery. Even if you do not wish to pay for the gallery, still head up there, as the following suggestions continue from level 5.
3. There is a small rooftop garden on level 5 as well.
4. There is a cafe to enjoy tea and the garden. For a fee.
5. There is a free gallery about “Memories of Kabuki” on level 4. There are stairs beside the garden to get there.
6. If you purchase a full ticket for the whole performance, you get to enter the theatre through the main entrance and enjoy the shops and atmosphere inside. Single act ticket holders cannot do that, they head straight to the fourth floor on a lift.
Interestingly, the Higashi-Ginza station has the unique colours and design of the curtains of the theatre.
View of the Kabukiza Theatre from across the road.
Will travel 