All Reviews for Tickets

I stopped by during my business trip to Hokkaido in February. I spent an hour at the observation deck until my train departure. It had snowed heavily the night before, but the access was very good since it is directly connected to the station, allowing me to avoid getting my shoes dirty. This was very convenient.

Although it was a Sunday afternoon, the observation deck seemed quite empty. I was able to enjoy a panoramic view of Sapporo city, beautifully sparkling with snow, and relax at the end of my trip. There is a café bar on-site, and that day, a group of senior men was happily chatting near the café corner. I thought that if I have the chance again, I would like to enjoy some alcohol while watching the sunset and night view.

Many seats are arranged in spacious areas, making it a great place for reading or just relaxing without doing anything. Additionally, the men's restroom is fantastic, and I highly recommend experiencing the open and spacious facilities. On the way to the observation deck via the elevator, I also enjoyed listening to music that mimicked the sounds of space, which was fun.

2月の北海道出張の際に立ち寄りました。
電車の時間までの1時間を展望台で過ごしました。
前夜まで大雪が降った後でしたが、駅に直結しているためアクセスがとても良く、足元が汚れずに済みました。これは大変便利でした。
展望台は日曜の午後でしたが、とても空いているように見えました。雪で美しく輝く札幌市内が一望でき、旅の最期をのんびりと過ごすことができました。
カフェバーが併設されており、この日はカフェコーナー近くでシニアの男性グループが楽しそうに談笑していました。次また機会があればアルコールをいただきながら日没〜夜景の景色を眺めたいな、と思いました。
多くの座席がゆったりしたスペースに配置されて、読書や何もせずにボーッと過ごすのも良さそうです。更に男性トイレが素晴らしく、開放的なトイレを是非体験して貰いたいです。
展望台へのエレベーターでのアクセスの途中でも、宇宙の音を模した音楽を聴いているので楽しかったです。

Difficult to purchase correct ticket on internet. Ticket clerk totally inflexible when we requested travel on the non stop bus in stead of the hop on hop off. Same company, same busses, plenty of free seats on both busses but it was IMPOSSIBLE to change ticket. I think you need to be a bit flexible. Not sure I would recommend to a friend. I have used open top bus in London & New York. A lot more user friendly.

We visited during Snow Festival early February and it was fantastic view

I had heard that the night view was wonderful, so on a relatively warm night, I went up to the observation deck. There weren't too many people, so I was able to take my time enjoying the view. The night weather was decent, allowing for a good view far into the distance. Indeed, no matter which direction I looked—east, west, south, or north—stunning night views greeted my eyes. If the weather is bad, I think visibility would likely be poor, so I would recommend choosing a clear day for the best experience.

夜景が素晴らしいと聞いていたので、比較的暖かい夜、展望室に上がった。人は、あまり多い日では無かったので、ゆっくりと眺めることが出来た。夜の天気もまずまずで、遠くまでの眺望がきいた。たしかに東西南北、どの方角を眺めても、素晴らしい夜景が目に飛び込んできた。もし、天気が悪いと、恐らく見通しは効かないだろうと思うので、好天の日を選んでの観賞をお勧めしたい。

Me and my husband purchased the Tokyo Sky Bus Tickets through Veltra's website and scheduled the tour for the next day. We received the voucher through e-mail and it was really easy to get our tickets the next day! Their office is really close to the Tokyo Station and the bus take off from there. We did the 3 routes on the same day and they were all really nice. On the blue route, we stopped at Asakusa temple ! They have a lot of little shops and food tends there... all of the typical things! On green route, we headed to the fish market, we had incredible sushi there and the quality of the food was great and of course really fresh! For our last route, (the purple one) we stopped on Roppongi hills and it was really pleasant to finish our day there and have some dinner. They have really nice stores and all kind of restaurants, cafes, etc. We had dinner at this Italian place called Il Ritrovo and the pizza, pasta and price there were great! You can get the Restaurants map at the entrance of the mall and there you can check all the options and price rates, it was great!
Our only complain it was the audio on the green bus that was not working and we couldn't hear the route.
Overall we had a really nice day!

Coming all the way from Australia, and being our first time in Tokyo. My friend and I thought the hop on hop off bus tour was a great way to see the whole of Tokyo in one day.

We came out under the Skytree tower was a great start to our tour of Tokyo, the staff were very helpful in showing where the Hop on Hop off bus office was. It was very easy to find and we got some great snaps of the Skytree tower as we walked to the office. We were pleased that the buses were frequent so we only waited a few minutes until the next bus arrived.

The English audio was fantastic and helped us learn alot about Tokyo and its history. What I liked most about this tour was that all three routes linked up at one stop and at the stop was a Starbucks which we purchased a coffee while we waited for the next bus route. Longest we waited was 20 minutes but was a good break from sight seeing.

Over all I thought this was a great way to see Tokyo in one day, the staff were friendly, a lot to see, the English audio was knowledgable and my friend and I had a great time seeing Tokyo this way. I would recommend this tour to anyone. Thanks :)

The bus was centrally located but not easy to find once you come out of Tokyo Station and if you speak no Japanese. The stuff onboard speaks very little to no English, so it is hard to communicate with them. The guide stuff is not very professional and even rude sometimes. There are no trash cans anywhere on the bus and the guide named Ms.Itsukoshi was laughing at us for bringing an empty coffee cup onboard, rather than find a way to dispose of it... There is absolutely no eating on the bus! Ms.Itsukoshi threw a big scene when my mother who is an elderly person ate a banana onboard simply because we were touring non-stop and there was not enough time between the routes to get food. It was raining cats and dogs that day. The stuff demanded a ticket outside before you get onboard rather than allowing you to come inside out of the rain's way and look for it in the dry. They also have known us. It was the same guides over and over. The stuff refused to give us a raincoat (we asked 2 people!) for walking around, because they covered up the bus. But they did give them to other people before when it just started to rain. The commentary never coincided with the location of the bus. You never knew which" red or white" building it was. The bus was always ontime, which was positive and was not even thrown off balance by bad weather. The stuff closed the roof when it started to rain, which is positive. I have been on many hop on, hop off tours before, this was probably the worst one. I have not seen the stuff so unresponsive and unhelpful to the tourists' needs like I have seen in Tokyo.

The vastness of Tokyo's Yamanote Line and its grid-like city layout were created with advice from Clark. The purpose was to urgently call people from Massachusetts, USA, who had experience in development, to prevent the invasion by Russia, which was aggressively expanding its territory. At that time, Hakodate existed, but there was a need to build a larger city further north to assert that Hokkaido was Japanese territory. This was Sapporo and the garrison soldiers, as explained by the clock tower guide. In a way, one could say that this outcome has protected present-day Japan! Unfortunately, during World War II, the Northern Territories were invaded, but can we not say that Russia's ambitions continue even now? Hokkaido offers great natural beauty wherever you go, with abundant seafood and land-based delicacies that provide ample healing. With vast plains, mountains, and the sea, it is a tourist destination where everyone can enjoy various activities. I have visited many times and never get bored. The sea urchin from Rishiri, cruising around the Shiretoko Peninsula, hot springs near Lake Akan, the Sapporo Snow Festival, and the aurora show that I can't quite remember, the vast plains of Nakashibetsu, and the natural beauty of the peninsula formed by ocean currents at Notsuke Peninsula Nature Land, the aesthetic of the town utilizing brick warehouses in Hakodate and Otaru, experiencing the northern animals at Asahikawa Zoo, and cruising through the drift ice of the Sea of Okhotsk, among many others. The food includes hairy crabs, king crabs, herring, hokke, scallops, sea cucumbers, and sea urchins, allowing for a full taste of seafood. Each of the four seasons offers its own enjoyment. In spring, the period around the equinox is a time when you can feel the power of nature. Driving through the Kushiro Wetlands or taking a special train is also moving. Ice fishing for smelt on Lake Akan in winter will surely be a special experience!

東京の山手線を飲み込む広さと碁盤の目の街は、クラークからアドバイスを貰って作られた。その目的は領地拡大を強力に進めていたロシアの侵略を阻止する為に、明治政府が慌てて開拓経験のあるアメリカ・マサチューセッツ州から人を呼び、広大な原野の開拓と兵力増強と訓練をした。その当時函館があつたが、更に北に大きな街を造り、北海道は日本領土だと主張出来る必要があつた。それが札幌と屯田兵だと時計台の説明員が教えてくれた。ある意味でこの結果が今の日本を守ったとも言えるのでしょう！残念ながら第2次世界戦争で北方領土に乗り込まれたですが、ロシアの思いは今も続いているとも言えないでしょうか！北海道には何処に行っても大自然があり、海の幸、陸の幸が存分にあり、存分に癒やされます。大平原があり、山があり、そして海があるので、色んな楽しみ方が出来る、それぞれの人が楽しめる観光地です。何度も来ていますが飽きさせない所です。利尻のウニ、知床半島のクルージング、阿寒湖近くの温泉、札幌の雪まつり、何処か思いださないがオーロラショー、中標津の太平原、その先の野付半島のネイチャーランドでの海流で出来た半島の自然美、函館や小樽でのレンガ倉庫を利用した町の美感、旭川の動物園で体験する北海の動物達、オホーツク海の流氷クルージング等々。食も毛ガニ、タラバ、にしん、ホッケ、ホタテ貝、ホヤ貝、そしてウニと海の幸が存分に味わえる。季節も4シーズンそれぞれに楽しめます。春なら連体前後が春の目がふく畤期で自然の力を感じられます。釧路の湿原を味わうドライブや特別列車も感動します。冬の阿寒湖の氷上でのワカサギ釣りも特別な体験になるでしょう！

Before the performance started, the waiting area felt like a lounge, with drinks, light snacks from Kanedaka, and a kimono DJ that really lifted the mood. The opening skit was also entertaining, and it was great to have a direct explanation of the kyogen from the performer right before the show. The content was easy to understand, and even though it was my first time experiencing kyogen, I enjoyed it very much! The backstage tour was also wonderful, as I got to see areas like the dressing rooms and behind the scenes that are usually off-limits.

演目が始まるまでは前室がラウンジのようになっていてドリンクや金田中さんの軽食、着物DJなどで気分が上がります。
前座のコント？も面白かったですし、演目前に狂言師さん直々に狂言の説明をしていただけたのが良かったです。内容もわかりやすかったですし、初めての狂言でしたがとても楽しめました！
バックヤードツアーも普段入ることのできない楽屋や舞台裏を見ることができて良かったです。

I rode all three routes and was able to enjoy the scenery of Tokyo at a leisurely pace, which was very relaxing. Until now, I often traveled by subway, but the view from the second floor of the double-decker bus was excellent, and familiar places looked different from up there.

However, since it was during the Silver Week holiday, it was quite crowded. Although you can get on and off freely, there were times when it was full and I couldn't board, and there were also delays due to traffic, which took quite a bit of time. It might not be suitable for those in a hurry, but my husband and I were very satisfied with the experience.

3ルート全てに乗りましたが、ゆっくりと東京の風景を楽しむことができ、のんびりすることができました。今までは地下鉄で移動することが多かったのですが、2階建の高い所からの眺めはとてもよく、知っている場所も、違ったように見えました。
ただシルバーウィーク期間中だったので、かなり混んでいました。乗り降り自由ですが、乗りたくても満員で乗れないこともあったり、渋滞でかなり時間がかかったりということもありました。時間がない人には不向きかもしれませんが、私たち夫婦は満足できる内容でした。

Enjoyed our trip but I would recommend a two day to really see the sights. We did all three routes in one day, but only stopped at two places in order to complete all three routes. The downside is if you get off the bus, you have to wait for the next bus which maybe an 1 1/2 to 2 hours. They are very punctual in accordance with their schedule. Dress appropriate for the weather as it got really cold in the evening. I'm not sure if they have other closed busses, but ours only had a top deck and considering it was January it was very cold. Also, you can only pickup the tickets at two locations, The company may want to consider having people conductors redeem tickets at all stops for the convenience of the customer. The headsets were usually in line with the sights but sometimes would seem off for the things you were viewing. We have taken various hop on hop off bus tours in cities around the world, generally we find it a great way to get and overview of the city and we generally go back to our favorite spots, time permitting. Overall, we really enjoyed the tour and would definitely recommend it if you are short on time in the city.

This is a great way to see Tokyo, the open top makes it better than a traditional bus, we had great fun riding around the whole route, picking where we would get off next time around. The girls on the bus were very helpful and the commentary interesting. Highly recommend this.

I have an interest in traditional performing arts, and I learned about this tour through a friend's recommendation. I had experienced Bunraku before, but it was my first time seeing Noh and Kyogen. I felt a bit nervous entering the venue, as it seemed somewhat highbrow. The atmosphere was reminiscent of a Japanese-style club. The attendees appeared to be quite affluent, but there were also various people, including someone pulling a carry-on bag from afar and a young child who seemed to be in elementary school (later revealed to be the son of one of the performers). There was also a merchandise booth, and as someone wearing a kimono, I was very intrigued by the reasonably priced hanhaba obi and obi-dome. Before the performance, the performers provided a rather rough synopsis, and a comedian explained the etiquette for watching Kyogen, which made me feel at ease even without prior preparation. I never expected to laugh so much while enjoying traditional performing arts, which I thought would be highbrow. I believe it was a very approachable atmosphere for beginners in traditional arts. This was my first time using a tour, so I have no comparisons, but I was very satisfied!

伝統芸能に興味があり、知人の紹介でこのツアーを知り申し込みました。文楽鑑賞はしたことがありましたが、能・狂言は初めてでした。なんとなく敷居が高い気がして少し緊張して会場に入りました。会場は和風のクラブかと思わせるような雰囲気。来ている人達はなんとなくリッチにみえるような方々が多かった気がしますが、キャリーバックを引いた遠方からと思われる方、小学生低学年と思われるちびっ子（のちにこのちびっ子は演者さんの息子さんと判明）もいるなど様々な方が来ていました。また物販のブースもあり、着物を着る私にとっては半幅帯や帯留めがかなりのリーズナブルさだったことに興味津々でした。本番前には演者さんたちによる、かなり大荒なあらすじ解説、芸人さんによる前せつで狂言の鑑賞マナーを知ることができ、予習をしていなくとも安心して観ることができました。敷居が高いと思っていた伝統芸能でこんなにケラケラと笑うとは思ってもみないほど楽しく鑑賞できました。伝統芸能初心者にとっては、とてもとっつきやすい雰囲気だったと思います。初めてのツアー利用で比較対象がありませんが、大満足でした！

This time, I was invited by a friend to my first Kyogen Lounge! I hadn't seen Kyogen since my elementary school field trip... I was a bit nervous, not knowing there was a Kyogen stage right in the heart of Shibuya, but when I arrived, I saw stylish people enjoying drinks in front of the stage with a glass of wine in hand. There was an older gentleman in a kimono DJing, and the fusion of traditional and modern created a really fun atmosphere.

In front of the stage, the performers humorously explained Kyogen. They were so approachable, almost like comedians. In the opening act, someone from a theater troupe performed, and it was really entertaining! It felt well-crafted and thought out.

As for the Kyogen itself, they explained the story beforehand, so I had a good understanding of what was happening. Even though it uses old language, it's still Japanese, so if you listen closely, you can grasp almost all of the story, which is reassuring.

I signed up for the backstage tour through Veltra because I heard it was exclusive to Veltra after the performance. The staff kindly guided us through in order. The details are a secret, haha. It seems they have different performances each time, so I’d love to bring my foreign friends and come again!

今回は友人に誘われ初の狂言ラウンジへ！狂言は小学校の社会科見学以来・・・
渋谷のど真ん中に狂言の舞台があったなんて知らず、ちょっと緊張していきましたが、
会場についてみるとワインを片手に持ったオシャレな人たちが、舞台前のドリンクを楽しんでいました。着物を着たおじさんがＤＪを回していたり、和と洋が融合してとても楽しい雰囲気でした。

舞台前には出演者がおもしろおかしく狂言を説明してくれました。まるでお笑い芸人のようで
本当に親しみやすかったです。前座では、どこかの劇団の方がでてらっしゃってそれがまたおもしろい！よく練って作られているな～という感じでした。
狂言そのものも、事前にストーリーを説明してくれるのでだいたいわかります。昔の言葉とはいっても日本語。よーく聞いていればほぼお話の内容はわかるので安心ですよ。

今回ベルトラで申し込んだのは、公演後のバックヤードツアーはベルトラ限定だと聞いたからです。お付きの方が順番に中を丁寧に案内してくれました。詳細は内緒です笑
毎回違う演目をやっているようなので、外国人の友人も連れてもう一度来たいなと思いました。

I went to the observation platform located at the 38th floor of the JR Tower connected to Sapporo Station as I had time till dinner. Even though it was only twilight, I was fascinated by the beauty of the night view, which was like scattered diamonds across a night sky..
I thought this observation platform was for people to see the night view beautifully with the lights down. I also think I would recommend this place for those who want to spend some time alone as there was a single chair seat by the window. Of course, this is absolutely for couples, friends and family looking for a night view as well.
In October, the night view of Sapporo was recognized to be one of 3 new beautiful night views in Japan, and thanks to the Christmas illumination in December, it is even more beautiful than usual.
The restrooms have large glass windows from which you can see the night view. It is a rare experience.
It's not just a night view, come during the day and see the landscape and city of Sapporo in a huge panaroma.
I recommend visiting the JR Tower Observatory.

<Translated by Veltra.com>

It's the first time we did the hop on- hop off bus tour itinerary in Japan and it was truly a wonderful experience. All members of the family got so excited. The bus was on time in each pick-up station and the bus assistant/receptionist was very friendly and courteous. Though it was freezing cold to stay up the deck, we enjoyed the picture-perfect sight seeing in major tourist destinations in Tokyo. The visit to the shrine in Asakusa was enriching. The sight of the beautiful Tokyo Tower was Lovely and magical. Passing through the colorful Rainbow Bridge on a very cold winter breeze at night time was awesome as we trudged our way to Aqua City at Odaiba on time for the fireworks show across the horizon. What a truly wonderful, exciting and unforgettable experience we had!

The service from the staff in Tokyo were very helpful and kind.
The schedule of the bus was very punctual. We used the 3 routes available to tour the city. My wife and I enjoyed very much the ride in the bus since we we have the chance to sight very important places in Tokyo. We went to the Tokyo Tower, the Sytree, the Senso-Ji temple, Asakasa area as well as Ropongi Hills, Akihabara, Odaiba Island, among other excited places.
The guide of the bus was very helpful and always were ready to help us. I will not hesitate at all to book with Veltra for another Bus tours.
Although the weather was chilly we enjoyed the tour vey much!

The service from the staff in Tokyo were very helpful and kind.
The schedule of the bus was very punctual. We used the 3 routes available to tour the city. My wife and I enjoyed very much the ride in the bus since we we have the chance to sight very important places in Tokyo. We went to the Tokyo Tower, the Sytree, the Senso-Ji temple, Asakasa area as well as Ropongi Hills, Akihabara, Odaiba Island, among other excited places.
The guide of the bus was very helpful and always were ready to help us. I will not hesitate at all to book with Veltra for another Bus tours.
Although the weather was chilly we enjoyed the tour vey much!

I highly recommend this Tokyo Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Package. The three route it offers provided most of the scenic attractions such as the Tokyo Skytree, Senso-ji temple in Asakusa, Tokyo Tower, Odaiba, Akihabara, Roppongi, Ginza, Ueno Zoo and many more. The staff are very friendly and the buses almost always arrive in time. You need to plan your drop off point to maximize the tour. They have audio in English which helps to describe important landmark. What is nice about the package is they provide 24 hours window to use your voucher. This means that if you started 12:00 pm your voucher is good until 12:00 pm the next day. The scenery provided by this package cannot be seen on ordinary buses or trains. The highlight is when we were traversing the rainbow bridge on the open top during the night on the way to Odaiba while we were shivering but the view was amazing.

We were being told it is a must ride when we visited Tokyo. I could not agree more. For as little as 20+ dollars, we were able to take the bus to tour around the major tourist spots in Tokyo. That amount is relatively cheap when compared to the high transportation cost in the city. Before the tour, we were being told it is impossible to sit through all 3 routes unless we do not hop off the bus throughout the whole journey. Hence, we made some careful planning and took the Odaiba and Tokyo town routes. We did not go to Asakusa because we already went there the day before. The Odaiba route is particularly enjoyable because we were able to tour around the rainbow bridge and look at the beautiful skyline and the magnificient sea view.

Tokyo hop-on hop-off bus is essential to explore the metropolitan city. You can hop on and hop off the bus from various spots and routes. During the tour, you will be given an earphone and you can listen to a guided tour translated in different languages, such as chinese, english, korean and japanese. We were not supposed to stand up and move around during the tour though. The staff somewhat appeared to be a little angry when we did. We thought it is a little bit stringent on the rules but on a hindsight they were peculiarly serious about the safety and well being of the foreign tourists. All in all, we enjoyed ourselves very much during the tour. It was a little too sunny for our liking on that day. But, it is bearable with the cool breeze blowing during the winter time.

It was my first time experiencing Kyogen, and I really enjoyed it. However, I arrived early and sat in a good spot, but for some reason, I was moved, which was disappointing. It seemed like a group related to someone in the performance.

狂言自体、始めてで、本当に楽しめました。
ただ、早めに会場入りして、見やすい席に座っていたのですが、なぜか移動させられ残念でした。身内？の団体さんのようでした。

The service of the staff in Tokyo were very helpful. We used the Bus-On_Hop-Off the day 25th of December, 2015. We also used 2 of the 3 routes available. We rode through the places like Akihabara, Ropongi Hills, Ueno, Tokyo Tower, and the Skytree, among others.

We were very forutnately to have one of the stop of the bus in the hotel we stayed (the New Otani Garden Tower Hotel). For that matter it was also vey convenious.

It was great experience we will do it again.

The time was a little chilly for that time of the year, but is was worthwhile the experience of using this service.

In general we were glad we used the bus tour.

My first experience with Kyogen with a friend. I thought it would be just right for beginners since it’s said to be easy to enjoy, so I decided to participate.

The duration is set for two hours, with the following schedule:
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Time to enjoy drinks and light snacks
8:00 PM: Explanation by the performers
8:15 PM: Skits by the troupe members
8:30 PM: Performance of Kyogen

Upon arriving at the venue, I checked in and spent an hour enjoying wine until the show started. (I didn’t realize that I could take my seat right after checking in, so I was absentmindedly drinking wine and by the time I noticed, the seats directly in front of the stage were all taken. It would have been helpful if they had informed me about the seating during check-in.)

I entered the venue when they announced, “Five minutes until showtime.” I was impressed by the beautiful and grand stage when the performers appeared. They provided an explanation about Kyogen with some humor. Next was a skit by the troupe members, which was a modern take on today’s performance, interwoven with interesting facts about Kyogen.

Finally, the main performance began. Thanks to the explanation by the performers and the skit by the troupe members, I was able to understand the storyline and enjoy the Kyogen even as a beginner.

After the performance, I had the opportunity to take photos with the performers and even participated in a backstage tour, which was pleasantly low-key for a traditional performing art.

友人と初めての狂言。
気軽に楽しめるとのことなので、初心者にはちょうど良いかなと思い、参加することにしました。

所要時間２時間となっていますが、
19:00〜20:00はドリンクや軽食を楽しむ時間
20:00〜演者さんによる解説
20:15〜劇団員さんによるコント
20:30〜狂言の上演
という感じの時間配分でした。

会場に到着して、受付を済ませて、ワインをいただきながら開演時間までの1時間を過ごしました。（受付を済ませ次第、席を取っても良いということを知らず、ぼんやりとワインを飲んでいたので、気づいた時には舞台正面の席は満席になっていました。受付の時に、席のことを教えていただけるとありがたかったです。）

「開演時間5分前です」というお声がかかり、会場に入りました。美しく立派な舞台に感心していると、演者さんが登場。笑いを交えて、狂言についての解説をしてくださいました。
続いて、劇団員さんによるコント。今日の演目を現代版にした内容に、狂言の豆知識を織り交ぜたコントでした。
そして、いよいよ本編。演者さんの解説と、劇団員さんによるコントのおかげで、あらすじを理解した上で狂言を観ることができるので、初心者でも楽しむことができました。

上演終了後には、演者さんと写真を撮らせていただいたり、バックヤードツアーもしていただいたりと、いい意味で伝統芸能らしからぬ敷居の低さでした。

This was my second time experiencing Kyogen, and I enjoyed it very much.

In the lounge before it started, there were many stylish guests. Some were in kimonos, while others were dressed in leather pants or mini skirts. I was able to enjoy the pleasant music and white wine, which created a mysterious atmosphere before the performance.

Once inside the Noh theater, the performers provided a clear and very interesting explanation of how to enjoy the show. I had prepared myself to sit up straight and watch seriously, thinking it would be stiff and formal, but I was relieved to hear that it was simply about having fun.

The actual Kyogen was easy to understand, and before I knew it, it was over while I was laughing. I definitely want to see it again!

狂言は2度目でしたが、とても楽しめました。

始まる前のラウンジには、おしゃれなお客様がいっぱい。着物の方もいれば、皮のパンツで決めている方やミニスカートの女子なども。心地よい音楽と白ワインで狂言前の不思議な雰囲気を味わえました。

能楽堂に入ると、楽しみ方の説明が演者の方から直接あります。わかりやすくとっても面白い！堅くて真面目なイメージなので、居住まいを正して観なくてはと構えていましたが、ただ楽しんで、ということでしたのでホッとしました。

実際の狂言は、内容もわかりやすく笑っているうちにあっという間でした。また是非見に行きたいなと、思います。

As I passed through the door, I was greeted by the vibrant stage of the kyogen performance. It was huge! So close! I could feel the excitement building, knowing something amazing was about to begin.

Before the show started, the performers casually shared the story of today's program and explained the kyogen language. Their encouraging words, "Don't worry about what you don't understand!" gave me courage. There was absolutely no stiffness; they made us laugh a lot and helped us relax.

Once the main performance began, the laid-back atmosphere transformed into something sharp and cool. As the show progressed, there were many moments that made me laugh out loud, and my first experience watching kyogen flew by in no time. If it’s like this, it might be nice to casually drop by after work.

扉をくぐると、狂言の舞台がドーン！と待ち受けておりました。
デカい！近い！これから何かすごいものが始まるぞーと、気分が高まります。

開演前に、演者さんがカジュアルな雰囲気で今日の演目のストーリーや狂言の言葉を教えてくれます。分からないところは気にするな！という力強いお言葉に勇気をもらいました。堅苦しさは全くなく、たくさん笑わせて、リラックスさせてくれます。

本番が始まると、さっきまでのゆるい感じが嘘のようにキリッとカッコイイ。その後、舞台が進むにつれ声を出して笑ってしまう場面が何度もあり、初めての狂言鑑賞はあっとゆう間でした。こうゆうのだったら仕事帰りに気軽に行けていいかも。

The Hop-on Hop-off bus tickets would bring you to many of the prominent tourist places. It is a great way to explore the city and very convenient for you to drop off at your desired spots for touring. With 1-day pass, it is quite impossible to take all 3 routes unless you intend to just sit on the bus without dropping off at the numerous tourist spots. Hence, you would need careful planning of the route. I first took the bus at Tokyo Station for the Odaiba course, dropping off at Venus Port (since I did not manage to go there when I went to Aqua City and Diver City the previous day) before taking the bus again one hour later back to Tokyo Station. After that, I took the bus again to go to Roppongi Hills. It depends on which place you want to go and with careful planning you will be enjoying the bus tour very much.

The dialogue seems to be in Japanese from the Muromachi period. I can only understand half of it, but I can still follow the story. However! This means that if I were to time travel to the Sengoku period, I think almost no modern Japanese would be understood. I hereby declare that I have given up on developing a time machine.

セリフは室町時代の日本語らしいです。半分しか理解できませんがなんとかストーリーは追えます。しかし！と言う事は戦国時代にタイムスリップしたらほとんど今の日本語は通じないと思いました。今ここにタイムマシンを開発する事を諦めたのを宣言します。

For me, who experienced kyogen for the first time, it was a very interesting event, and I enjoyed it a lot. What I liked first was the opening act by the theater group Enban Rider. This pre-show, which explained the basic knowledge of Noh theater through a skit modeled after the performance, allowed me to prepare for entering the world of kyogen while also relaxing and enjoying the show.

Additionally, it seems that the selected performances are likely chosen to be interesting even for beginners. I appreciated that the comedic moments were easy to understand.

The backstage tour was also very fascinating, as it allowed us to peek behind the scenes of the Noh stage, which is not something you can see often. The explanations were thorough, ensuring that any questions were addressed, which gave me a little insight into the traditional performing arts of Noh and kyogen and the environment in which they have developed.

If I were to be picky, I thought the club-like atmosphere might be unnecessary. I believe many young people could enjoy it even without that aspect.

However, I still think it was a great event that was entertaining and allowed for a relaxed interaction with traditional performing arts.

初めて狂言を鑑賞した私にとっても非常に面白いイベントで、とても楽しめました。まず気に入ったのが円盤ライダーという劇団の方々による前説です。今回の演目を模したコントで能舞台の基礎知識を説明する、この前説では狂言の世界に入り込む準備ができるとともに、肩の力を抜いて鑑賞できるという良さもありました。

また、おそらく演目も初心者が見ても面白いものを選択しているのでしょう。笑いどころが分かりやすいものが上演されていたのもありがたかったです。

バックヤードツアーもなかなか見ることができない能舞台の裏側をのぞくことができて非常に興味深かったです。何かあれば、しっかり痒いところまで手が届くような説明がされるので、能や狂言がどのような土壌で育ってきた伝統芸能かと言うことが少しだけわかった気がします。

欲を言えば、クラブ風にするのは蛇足かなあとも思いました。若い人もこれが無くても楽しめる人は多いだろうと思うからです。

しかし、やっぱり面白いし肩の力を抜いて伝統芸能に触れ合える、良いイベントだったと思います。

I arrived at the Noh Theatre 30 minutes before the performance. The lounge, bustling with guests, felt just like a party venue! The clever touch of using Hyakunin Isshu reading cards as drink tickets allowed me to enjoy some sparkling wine.

To ensure that even beginners could enjoy the experience, they provided explanations about the history of Kyogen and the stage before the performance, which was fascinating! Since Kyogen uses classical Japanese rather than modern language, it felt like listening to a foreign language, but thanks to the performers' gestures, vocal inflections, and speaking style, I was able to understand it to some extent.

This time, I had signed up for a backstage tour, which allowed me to sneak into areas usually off-limits to the public. Guided by an apprentice, I listened to explanations about the performers' waiting area, dressing rooms, and props, and even got to see a demonstration of how the curtains are opened and closed, making the tour even more engaging regarding Kyogen.

In this otherworldly space, I was able to spend a noble and stylish time, creating a memorable evening. It seems there will be regular performances next year, so I would love to attend again.

開演30分前に能楽堂に到着。お客さんで賑わうラウンジはまさにパーティー会場のよう♪
百人一首の読札がドリンク券というニクい演出で、スパークリングワインをいただきました。

初心者の人でも楽しめるよう、上演前に狂言の歴史や舞台を解説してくれますが、これがおもしろい！狂言自体は現代語ではなく古語を使うため、外国語を聞いているようでしたが、演者の所作、声の抑揚、話し方のおかげで、ある程度、理解することができました。

今回、バックヤードツアー付きを申し込んでいたため、普段一般の人が入ることのできない裏舞台に潜入することができました。お弟子さんの案内のもと、演者控えの場や、楽屋、小道具などの説明を聞いたり、幕の開け閉めを再現してくれたりと、狂言に対してより興味が沸くツアー内容でした。

異空間の中、高貴でオシャレな時間を過ごすことができ、思い出に残る一夜となりました。
来年も定期的に公演があるようですので、また鑑賞してみたいと思いました。