Museum · Waseda

Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum, Waseda University 早稲田大学坪内博士記念演劇博物館

A free theatre museum in a 1928 replica of an Elizabethan playhouse on the Waseda campus, holding kabuki costumes, noh masks, ukiyo-e actor prints and world theatre treasures.

About

Built in 1928 to honour Shoyo Tsubouchi, who translated all of Shakespeare into Japanese, the Enpaku, as students call it, is modelled on the 16th-century Fortune Theatre in London: its entrance doubles as a stage, with the library wings as galleries. Inside is Japan's largest theatre collection, with around a million items: kabuki costumes and props, noh and kyogen masks, bunraku puppets, thousands of ukiyo-e actor prints and posters, and material on Western theatre, film and contemporary performance. Permanent rooms rotate selections, and special exhibitions explore topics from kabuki stars to anime voice acting. It is free, on a lively university campus, and rarely crowded; some areas may be closed for renovation works.

Highlights

• 1928 building modelled on Elizabethan London's Fortune Theatre
• Kabuki costumes, noh masks and bunraku puppets
• Huge collection of ukiyo-e actor prints
• Rotating special exhibitions on theatre and film
• Free admission on the Waseda campus

Tips

• Free entry; open late on Tuesdays and Fridays until 19:00.
• The museum has posted notices about partial closures for renovation; check before visiting.
• Combine with the Haruki Murakami Library (Waseda International House of Literature) next door, also free.
• The campus is busiest at lunchtime; mornings are quieter.

Open in Google Maps · Info checked 2026-10-09

Nearby

• Waseda University Okuma AuditoriumLandmark & Tower · 220 m away
• Ana HachimanguShrine · 360 m away
• Higo Hosokawa GardenGarden · 390 m away
• Sekiguchi Basho-anLocal Secret · 440 m away
• Eisei Bunko MuseumMuseum · 510 m away
• Hakone-yama (Toyama Park)Vista & View · 520 m away
• Raamen YamaguchiRamen & Noodles · 570 m away
• Hotel Chinzanso TokyoStay · 600 m away