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Kabukiza

Ginza & Tsukiji

The flamboyant facade of this venerable theatre is fitting for the extravagant dramatic flourishes that are integral to the traditional performing art of¡­

Shinjuku Pit Inn

Shinjuku & Northwest Tokyo

This is Tokyo's best jazz spot: intimate, unpretentious and with an always solid line-up of influential, avant-garde, crossover and up-and-coming¡­

Namba Bears

Osaka

For going on three decades this has been the place to hear underground music live in Osaka. It's a small, bare-concrete, smokey space ¨C well suited to the¡­

National Bunraku Theatre

Osaka

The classical performing art most associated with Osaka is bunraku, which makes dramatic use of highly sophisticated puppets. Visiting the theatre is a¡­

Ry¨­goku Kokugikan

Asakusa & Sumida River

If you¡¯re in town when a tournament is on, don't miss the chance to catch the big boys of Japanese wrestling in action at the country's largest sumo¡­

National Theatre

Roppongi, Akasaka & Around

Japan's most important theatre for traditional performing arts stages kabuki, gagaku (music of the imperial court), ky¨­mai (Kyoto-style traditional dance)¡­

Tokyo Dome

K¨­rakuen & Akihabara

Tokyo Dome (aka ¡®The Big Egg¡¯) is home to the Yomiuri Giants. They're the most consistently successful team in Japanese baseball.

Minamiza

Southern Higashiyama

This theatre in Gion is the oldest kabuki theatre in Japan. The major event of the year is the Kaomise festival in December, which features Japan¡¯s finest¡­

Miyako Odori

Southern Higashiyama

This 45-minute dance is a wonderful geisha performance. It¡¯s a real stunner and the colourful images are mesmerising. It¡¯s held throughout April, usually¡­

Taku-Taku

Downtown Kyoto

One of Kyoto¡¯s most atmospheric live-music venues, with a long history of hosting some great local and international acts. Check the Kyoto Visitor's Guide¡­

Ky¨­ Odori

Southern Higashiyama

Put on by the Miyagawa-ch¨­ geisha district, this wonderful geisha dance is among the most picturesque performances of the Kyoto year. It¡¯s held from the¡­

Ky¨±sh¨± Bash¨­ Sumo Tournament

Fukuoka

Held for two weeks at the Fukuoka Kokusai Centre. The main ticket sale is in October, and spectators start lining up at dawn for limited same-day tickets ¡­

Gion Odori

Southern Higashiyama

This is a quaint and charming geisha dance put on by the geisha of the Gion Higashi geisha district. It¡¯s held from 1 to 10 November at the Gion Kaikan¡­

New National Theatre

Shinjuku & Northwest Tokyo

This is Tokyo¡¯s premier public performing-arts centre, with state-of-the-art stages for drama, opera and dance. The plays are in Japanese and the operas¡­

Sumo Spring Tournament

Osaka

The big fellas rumble into Osaka in March for this major tournament, held in the EDION Arena (Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium (¸®Á¢ÌåÓý»áð^) in Namba. Tickets (from¡­

Tokyo Bunka Kaikan

Ueno & Yanesen

The Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra and the Tokyo Ballet both make regular appearances at this Ueno-k¨­en landmark, designed by Maekawa Kunio, an¡­

Robot Restaurant

Shinjuku & Northwest Tokyo

This Kabukich¨­ spectacle has hit it big with its vision of 'wacky Japan': bikini-clad women ride around on giant robots against a backdrop of animated¡­

Suigian

Tokyo

This chic lounge stages short acts (40 minutes) of traditional Japanese performing arts, including n¨­, kagura (sacred dance) and Kyo-mai (Kyoto-style¡­

Sapporo Dome

Sapporo

Built for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Sapporo Dome is home to both baseball's Hokkaid¨­ Nippon Ham Fighters (www.fighters.co.jp) and J-League soccer's¡­

Mazda Zoom Zoom Stadium

Hiroshima

This stadium is a good place to catch a baseball game and see the beloved local team, the Carp. It's a short walk southeast of Hiroshima Station ¨C follow¡­

Kyoto Cuisine & Maiko Evening

Southern Higashiyama

If you want to witness geisha perform and then actually speak with them, one of the best opportunities is at Gion Hatanaka, a Gion ryokan that offers a¡­

Arashio Stable

Tokyo

Sumo wrestlers live and practice in a heya (somewhat weirdly translated as 'stable'). Only some allow visitors to watch keiko (practice) and then¡­

Jing¨± Baseball Stadium

Harajuku & Aoyama

Jing¨± Baseball Stadium, built in 1926, is home to the Yakult Swallows, Tokyo¡¯s number-two team (but number-one when it comes to fan loyalty; Swallows fans¡­

UFO Club

Tokyo

Named for the infamous 1960s London spot, K¨­enji's UFO Club is committed to keeping the spirit of the era alive: the small basement space, with red-and¡­

P.A.R.M.S

K¨­rakuen & Akihabara

The girl group Kamen Joshi ¨C singing and dancing young women wearing cute outfits and full-face hockey masks ¨C is all the rage at this live-music show in¡­

Tokyo Takarazuka Theatre

Ginza & Tsukiji

If you love camp, this is for you. The all-female Takarazuka revue, going back to 1914, stages highly stylised musicals in Japanese (English synopses are¡­

Nippon Bud¨­kan

Tokyo

The 14,000-plus-seat Bud¨­kan was originally built for the judo competition of the 1964 Olympics (bud¨­ means 'martial arts') and will be pressed into¡­

Kazunoya Oiwake

Asakusa & Sumida River

Oiwake is one of Tokyo's few remaining miny¨­ izakaya, pubs where traditional folk music is performed. It's a small, cosy place, where the waitstaff and¡­

Toho Cinemas Roppongi Hills

Roppongi, Akasaka & Around

One of Tokyo's nicest and biggest cinemas (it has nine screens, some with 3D and 4D capability), Toho's Roppongi Hills theatre screens all the latest¡­

AKB48 Theatre

K¨­rakuen & Akihabara

Not as red-hot as they once were, this J-pop phenomenon girl group of 60 rotating members continues to perform in shifts at its very own workhouse¡­er¡­

Uplink

Shibuya & Shimo-Kitazawa

Watching indies here feels a bit like hanging out in a friend's basement; with just 40 comfy, mismatched seats, Uplink is officially Tokyo's smallest¡­

National N¨­ Theatre

Harajuku & Aoyama

This is Japan's only national theatre devoted to n¨­, a centuries' old mode of performing arts. It has a classically elegant, sparse cypress stage;¡­

Lady Jane

Shibuya & Shimo-Kitazawa

Billing itself as 'Booze & Jazz since 1975', Lady Jane is a Shimo-Kitazawa landmark, with a polished, vintage interior of dark wood and moody lighting. On¡­

Maiko Dinner Show Yasakadori Enraku

Southern Higashiyama

Traditional restaurant Yasadori Enraku started hosting intimate maiko (apprentice geisha) performances in early 2017. Guests are seated on tatami-mat¡­

Setagaya Public Theatre

Shibuya & Shimo-Kitazawa

Setagaya Public Theatre, comprising a main stage and the smaller, more experimental Theatre Tram, is the city's top venue for contemporary drama and dance¡­

Plan B

Tokyo

Underground venue for avant-garde performances, often dance, including but¨­ (a Japanese form of contemporary dance). Shows are irregular. Book tickets¡­

Crocodile

Harajuku & Aoyama

Decked out in neon, mirrors and chrome, Crocodile is a classic dive. Live music of all sorts plays here nightly (from rock to reggae to Latin), but the¡­

WWW

Shibuya & Shimo-Kitazawa

In a former art-house cinema with the tell-tale tiered floor (but not the seats) still intact, this is one of those rare venues where you could turn up¡­

Club Quattro

Shibuya & Shimo-Kitazawa

This small venue attracts a more grown-up, artsy crowd than the club¡¯s location ¨C in the heart of Shibuya ¨C might lead you to expect. There¡¯s no explicit¡­

Blue Note Tokyo

Harajuku & Aoyama

Like sister clubs in New York and Milan, Blue Note Tokyo books the biggest international names in jazz, as well as local talent. This is a well-heeled¡­