Tokyo’s Imperial Theater is a prestigious theatre located opposite the Imperial Palace’s detached court gardens and the palace complex moat. It holds the distinction of being Japan’s first Western-style theatre and is also home to the Idemitsu Museum of Arts.
The theater originally opened in 1911, but the current modern complex, built in the mid-1960s, hosts a wide range of performances. These include local productions of major Broadway musicals such as Rent, Les Misérables, and Miss Saigon, as well as Japanese theatrical productions and film screenings.
The Imperial Theater is owned by the Toho Group, one of Japan’s largest film companies. Visitors can explore an on-site gift shop, which offers a selection of DVDs and CDs featuring the company’s productions and Imperial Theater performances.
Idemitsu Museum of Arts
Located on the 9th floor of the theatre building, the Idemitsu Museum of Arts showcases the renowned Idemitsu Collection. The museum holds six to seven special exhibitions per year, featuring:
- Japanese paintings and calligraphy
- East Asian ceramics
- Permanent exhibitions of major works by French religious painter Georges Rouault and Norwegian artist Edvard Munch
Getting to the Imperial Theater
The Imperial Theater is located at 3-1-1 Marunouchi, just a short walk from several Tokyo Metro and Toei subway stations:
- Yurakucho Station (Y18) on the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line
- Hibiya Station (I08) on the Toei Mita Line
- Hibiya Stations (H07, C09) on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya and Chiyoda Lines
For those arriving from Tokyo Station, exit via the Marunouchi Exit and walk two blocks towards the Imperial Palace’s Kokyogaien Garden. Follow the gardens south for five blocks, and the theater will be on your right, overlooking Hibiya Dori.
Nearby attractions include Hibiya Park, making the Imperial Theater a perfect cultural stop during a visit to Tokyo’s historic Marunouchi district.
