This translation was prepared with AI assistance and reviewed by the editorial team.
Kaho Theatre (嘉穂劇場) in Iizuka reopens on Saturday, October 24, 2026, after about five years of closure. The historic wooden playhouse will initially operate as a sightseeing facility, letting visitors explore its seating and stage machinery. Admission is free on October 24–26, with reopening events on October 24 and 25.
The 11:30 ceremony is invitation-only. Performances require same-day numbered tickets, and ordinary sightseeing is unavailable while a performance is taking place.
Reopening dates at a glance
The reopening weekend and regular operation have different schedules. Check the date you intend to visit.
| October 23–24 | Theatre exterior light-up planned for 17:30–20:00 |
|---|---|
| October 24 | Public entry from 12:30; reopening performances and plaza events |
| October 25 | Performances, tea gathering and sweets event, in conjunction with the Iizuka Kaido Festival |
| October 24–26 | Free admission; ordinary sightseeing pauses during performances |
| October 29 | Regular opening begins after the closed days |
Performances, tea and sweets
The special performances feature taiko drumming, dance and theatre. Each session is limited to 100 people, with numbered tickets distributed on the day. If you mainly want to explore the building, avoid the performance times.
| Date | Performance times | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| October 24 | 13:30 and 15:30: “Reopening Commemorative Performance: Kaho Theatre’s Century Scroll” (嘉穂劇場百年絵巻) | 50 minutes each |
| October 25 | 10:30, 14:00 and 16:00 | 30 minutes each |
The tea gathering in front of the theatre runs 13:00–16:00 on October 24 and 10:00–16:00 on October 25. It is limited to 100 people each day, with same-day numbered tickets; it may be cancelled in bad weather and ends when capacity is reached.
The sweets collection runs on October 25, 10:00–15:00, ending earlier if items sell out. Plaza food sales are also planned, including Eiraku Anpan (永楽あんぱん), which was exhibited and sold at the French Pavilion of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai. October 25’s events are linked with the Iizuka Kaido Festival, making it a chance to explore the surrounding town as well.
Check Iizuka City’s reopening event schedule
A wooden playhouse from 1931
Kaho Theatre opened in 1931. Its two-storey wooden building preserves the style of Edo-period kabuki theatres and reflects the Chikuho region’s coal-mining history. Of the many playhouses once found around the Onga River basin, this is the one that survives.
The original seating and stage machinery remain important features of the visit. The theatre became a nationally registered tangible cultural property in 2006 and a Heritage of Industrial Modernization site in 2007. It was donated to Iizuka City in 2021.
Crowdfunding raised approximately ¥528.65 million in donations. Part of the funds, together with city funding, supported seismic assessment, planning, removal of ancillary structures and new outdoor toilets. The reopening is initially for sightseeing, not a return to an unrestricted regular theatre programme.
Regular hours and admission from October 29
Normal opening is 9:30–17:00, with last entry at 16:30. The theatre is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays except public holidays, and from December 29 to January 3. Private group use may also make sightseeing unavailable on certain dates.
| Address | 5-23 Iizuka, Iizuka City, Fukuoka Prefecture（福岡県飯塚市飯塚5番23号） |
|---|---|
| Individual admission: visitors living outside Iizuka | Adults ¥500; elementary and junior-high pupils ¥200; preschool children free |
| Individual admission: Iizuka residents | Adults ¥300; elementary and junior-high pupils free; preschool children free |
| General guided explanations | 10:00 and 14:30, no reservation required |
| Groups | Advance application required for groups of 20 or more, or groups arriving by chartered bus |
| Inside the theatre | No eating or drinking |
The city currently schedules two general guided explanations daily. An English-language guide is not promised in the published information. You can also explore the building independently.
Check admission and group-visit information
Other Iizuka outings
For the town’s wider cultural setting, the former Ito Denemon residence is another historic landmark. Our Iizuka Hina Festival 2026 guide covers the spring event, which has already finished. The 102nd Iizuka Fireworks Festival guide likewise describes an event held earlier in 2026; neither is part of the October reopening weekend.
