The NŌWHERE Tours are themed tours exploring Kyoto through the unique perspective of noh, a traditional performing art bringing together poetry, chant, dance, and music, as well as gorgeous costumes and masks. It has been passed down in Kyoto for almost 700 years and has inspired many of the existing Japanese arts.
On the tours, we will visit places or people related to noh plays and attend professional performances or workshops by specialists. Kyoto is full of places that became stages to the stories in noh, and many of the traditions depicted in the plays are still found here, making it the ideal place to discover noh in both historical and contemporary contexts.
The NŌWHERE Tours – Hanjo/Shimogamo:
The noh play Hanjo is a story about separated lovers, a courtesan and a court noble, who reunite in Shimogamo Shrine’s forest. The play draws on the symbolism of the fan in poetry and classical literature.
In the Hanjo/Shimogamo tour, we will visit Shimogamo Shrine and its forest, explore the symbolism of the fan at the former villa of the Mitsui Family and enjoy a brunch of a traditional bento before we finally see the play performed on stage at the Kongo Noh Theatre.
You can also take home a special folding fan exclusively made for the NŌWHERE Tours by a long-established maker of noh fans (limited availability).
Number of guests:
2 – 6 persons
Price:
36000 yen (Includes: guided tour, custom-made fan, brunch, performance ticket and admission fees)
Applications:
https://dnk-nowhere-hanjo.peatix.com/
Schedule Overview
8:30 Meet at the Tadasu no Mori bus stop
8:30 – 9:30 Visit Shimogamo Shrine and walk through the Tadasu no Mori forest
9:30 – 10:00 Tour of the Old Mitsui Family Villa
10:00 – 11:00 Introduction to noh and the play Hanjo
11:00 – 11:45 Brunch (traditional bento)
11:45 – 12:15 Free time in the first floor and garden area of the Villa
12:15 – Walk 30 min or take taxi to the theatre (taxi aprox. 10 min / ¥1000)
13:00 – 15:00 Performance of Hanjo
– End of today’s NŌWHERE Tours –
(15:00 – 17:30 *If you are interested in seeing more plays, you can stay in the theatre)
1. Morning visit to Shimogamo Shrine and a stroll through its forest
Discover the historical and cultural relationship between Kyoto and noh through a visit to a shrine and forest of great significance in Kyoto’s history of art and literature, which is also where the story of Hanjo takes place.
2. Introduction to noh theatre and the highlights of the play Hanjo
Learn about noh and the play Hanjo in preparation for the theatre visit. Our expert guide will introduce you to noh’s history and key concepts. We will also explore Hanjo’s storyline and highlights, which will enhance your appreciation of the performance.
3. Folding fan made especially for this tour by a noh fan maker
Based on the fan design used by the noh actors (upper right), Tomatsuya Fukui, a fan shop specializing in fans for performances, is making a standard-size fan (lower left) for you. The fan will have a white-based pattern with the motifs depicted in the play script on the front and a plain white back. The number of fans is limited, so please order your ticket to secure your fan (*additional orders will be available until May 10th).
4. Bento brunch at the the Old Mitsui Family Villa
Kyoto has many traditional Japanese restaurants that cater to special events such as tea ceremonies in private venues or Buddhist ceremonies at temples. Before we go to the theatre, we will enjoy a classical Japanese bento for brunch on the second floor of the former villa of a prominent merchant family in Japan.
5. Performance of the play Hanjo at the Kongo Noh Theatre
This NŌWHERE Tour will conclude with seeing the play Hanjo. The lead actor for this production is Kongo Tatsunori, the 27th-generation actor of the headmaster’s family of the Kongo School of noh. After Hanjo, several other plays will be performed, and you are welcome to stay and see them all.
Today’s guide:
Julia Yamane
Practitioner of noh dance and chant since 1999. Kyoto City Certified Guide.
Discover Noh in Kyoto is an organization devoted to introducing and promoting noh from multicultural perspectives. A portion of the proceedings will be used for educational programs and to provide accessible opportunities for students and young audiences.
Contact: info@discovernohinkyoto.jp
Children: This program is generally designed to be suitable for above age 12.
NOTE:
Cancellation policy
You will be charged the following percentage of your ticket price as cancellation fees depending on the timing you cancel:
30% after May 25th (Sat) 17:00
50% after June 1st (Sat) 17:00
70% after June 5th (Wed) 17:00
100% after June 8th (Sat) 17:00
*Rain or shine, the tour will not be canceled. However, it may be canceled when serious health or safety issues occur.
*We will walk a total of 1.5km, so we recommend wearing comfortable shoes. Also, please note that we will be walking on unpaved paths and gravel in the shrine precincts.
Discover Noh in Kyoto 
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