Tokushima Motomachi Private Activity Tour by Fine Arts
Overview
Available languages
3 hours 15 minutes
Mobile ticket
Few opportunities exist for foreigner visitors or even Japanese people to handle traditional puppets and learn about their structure and manipulation and see behind the scene views.
Participants will have access to a range of traditional Japanese puppets with a guide who has more than 30 years experience performing in the puppet theater who can speak both English and Japanese and answer questions about the culture and history of the puppet theater.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
What To Expect
Participants will learn how traditional Japanese puppets are operated in a hands-on workshop using a variety of puppets, then travel to the Tokushima Prefectural Awa Jurobe Puppet Theater to see a performance and tour the museum. Then participants will return to Tokushima JR Station.
Options
Tokushima Motomachi Private Activity Tour by Fine Arts
What‘s Included
All Fees and Taxes
Lunch
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
2 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Martin Holman's Puppet Experience Tour :-)
Howard R,Mar 14, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Couldn't have asked for better! Martin was quickly responsive and beyond helpful in arranging the tour, then due to cruise ship schedule changes caused by dramatic weather and ocean conditions, having to make multiple adjustments for time and place of the tour. He's vastly knowledgeable about the history, design, construction and performance of this unique type of puppetry, and provided us with what we wanted to learn and know. Thank you, Martin, for making it possible under difficult circumstances beyond your and our control.
Awa Puppet Theater: The MUST-DO Experience in Tokushima!
Passport39644370124,Nov 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I had an absolutely amazing time doing the Awa Puppet Theater (Awa Ningyō Jōruri) experience in Tokushima, and I highly recommend it for anyone who loves theater, literature, and culture—even if you've never been a big fan of puppets, like me! The rest of my group thought I was crazy for booking this, but they all agreed it was hands-down one of the best and most surprising experiences of the whole trip. This is genuinely good for anyone wanting a unique and cultural experience in Japan. Not only do you get to watch a beautifully traditional performance scene, but even better, you get to go behind the scenes and then learn how to move the puppets yourself in a hands-on workshop. This was a unique, once-in-a-lifetime Japanese experience, and I'm super glad I booked it, especially since we were basically taught by the internationally renowned puppet expert, Martin Holman, which makes booking this exceptional opportunity a complete no-brainer.
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