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11th - 23rd September 2025
A Festival for Everyone!
Even if you are not a theatre goer, the Toyooka Theatre Festival is an enchanting event full of fun.
You do not need to buy tickets to see performances presented inside the theatre. Just walk around the town and feel the festive atmosphere which totally changes during festival season.
In 2024, 132 programs from 7 different countries were presented at various venues throughout Toyooka, a total audience of 36,225 enjoyed the festival.
Check out the events you can enjoy during your stay in Toyooka City, including the street performances in Kinosaki Onsen or the festival market food trucks.
For those who want to enjoy more, various programs such as a traditional folklore performed at old shrines or cutting-edge collaborative works by international troupes are on the list.
Fringe Street
Kinosaki’s historical townscape and the old fashioned streets in Downtown Toyooka turn into a stage! Experience this exclusive occasion and enjoy performances by street performers under the sky.
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Shisho Shirine Kinosaki Onsen
Multiple places includes in front of Kinosaki Onsen Station, Kiyamachi Street, Shisho Shrine, and Willow Street all turn into a stage.
During this period, good old Kinosaki Onsen completely changes its face.
Walk around and enjoy the juggling at a shrine or a miming clown in the traditional streets. -
©︎Ayaka TOMOKANE Toyooka City Hall
Street performers appear in the Festival Night Market in front of Toyooka City Hall!
Enjoy food and drinks from the food trucks while watching performances.
Stages of Nature and History
The Toyooka Theatre Festival is unique as many special places turn into performance venues.
Past venues include Eirakukan Kabuki Theatre in Izushi Castle Town, an old ski slope in the Kannabe Highlands, a sandy stage at Takeno beach, a train running through the San'in Kaigan UNESCO Global Geopark, and an ancient traditional wooden shrine stage in Tanto Farming Village.
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Train running through UNESCO geopark -
Takeno Beach stage
Festival Night Market
Festivals are never complete without food!
Toyooka City, famous for its local specialties such as Snow Crab and Tajima Beef, offers plenty of options for food at the Festival Night Market.
Food trucks are not only "Japanese B-class Gourmet" here. Well cooked local ingredients are available at an affordable price.
Taste local dishes and drinks in a comfortable seating area while watching performances!
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©︎Ayaka TOMOKANE -
©︎Ayaka TOMOKANE
International Performers and Collaborate Works
Every year, many performers and theatre troupes from all over the world join the festival to present their performances, including internationally collaborative works.
The collaborative production by Shakespeare’s Wild Sisters Group (Taiwan) and Kuro Tanino (Japan) has already been announced as one of the first line-ups.
The story of this piece is situated in a public bath house, which Taiwan and Japan share the same tradition. Witness the conscientious set design of the interior of a public bath house, built on the stage of the Kinosaki International Art Centre.
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©︎Ayaka TOMOKANE Experience Local Narratives
The Toyooka Theatre Festival is not only a chance for artists present their performances, but also a place where artists create and develop their works while they stay in Toyooka City.
There are always works born here, researching local narratives and created with local people.
Tanto Sai Sai is performed by local people based on the traditional folklore performance carried down through generations in Tanto Farming Village.
This year, "The Last Geishas: Re-creation" created with Hidemi, the last Geisha in Kinosaki Onsen, will be performed at Eirakukan Kabuki Theatre in Izushi Castle Town. -
©︎Ayaka TOMOKANE Meet Local People
Maybe you would like to meet artists, locals, and fellow festival-goers - at the festival's Meeting Spot, you can take a rest, speak with people or purchase festival souvenirs!
Festival Centre
Festival Centre in front of Toyooka Station
Tickets for the festival productions can be purchased here.
However, this place is not only a box office.
If you do not know which performance/event you can enjoy or how to reach to the venue, just ask here!
Opening date and details are to be announced at festival's official website.