Traditional Japanese Music Zakuro Show In Tokyo

What a beautiful treat to wrap up our first visit to Japan! Outstanding musicians and great intro to the traditional instruments & songs. Very intimate setting and easy to find. Highly recommend!!

I really enjoyed ZAKURO SHOW! It was my chance to experience Japanese traditional music up close and discover instruments I don’t usually get to hear live. The combination of koto, shamisen, shakuhachi and Japanese drums was amazing. Some moments were peaceful and beautiful, others so powerful that you could feel the energy in the room.

he Zakuro Show was an intimate introduction to Japan’s traditional music, performed by exceptional musicians. Listening to Instruments like Koto, Shamisen, and Taiko with explanations about their history in between sets gave us a delightful way to learn about this beautiful music form. We highly recommend this experience as a unique and profound portal into Japanese culture.

An hour of truly excellent music, by skilled musicians with a since surprise in the middle. Well worth the money, and will be going back on my next stay in Tokyo.

Zakuro Show completely exceeded our expectations. From the very first moments you feel the energy in the room and it only builds as the evening goes on. The performers are incredibly engaging and make every guest feel involved in a natural and comfortable way. The whole experience feels vibrant and alive. The music, costumes and atmosphere come together beautifully and create something that feels both authentically Japanese and genuinely fun. Nothing feels forced or artificial. We left with big smiles and a feeling that we had experienced something special.

This was one of the most fun and unforgettable nights we had in Tokyo. Zakuro Show is full of energy, humor and constant interaction. The performers are amazing and you can feel how much they enjoy what they are doing. That energy spreads through the room and pulls everyone in. At some point you stop thinking and just enjoy the moment. The atmosphere is warm, lively and very welcoming. It works perfectly for a group and creates those moments you will still be talking about later. If you are thinking about going, just go. It is absolutely worth it.

I was looking for some traditional Japanese music to see while in Tokyo, and this was the perfect one! I got to witness Aioi Six perform some traditional and some modern pieces, and each member had an opportunity to talk about their instruments and the history. Worth every yen/dollar.

A must-see cultural experience in Tokyo, showcasing superb musicianship in an exceptional setting

Unique experience to learn and feel the musical heritage of Japan. Our favorite evening in Tokyo!

It was an absolutely wonderful show that everyone should experience. It is a unique opportunity to hear traditional Japanese instruments and music because similar performances and concerts open to general public do not exist as such in Japan.

An immersion experience in a very modern form of traditional Japanese musical styles. Part very informative and part brilliant musicianship, this musical troupe produced exquisite sounds. A great introduction to traditional Japanese music.

Fantastic show! Learned a lot about Japanese traditional instruments and got to enjoyed the music and the musicians. The show offered an unforgettable experience filled with amazing musical pieces, history and humor. Would definitely recommend it to everyone who wants to experience Japanese culture in depth.

I went to the Zakuro show in December. The musicians are very talented and welcoming, and everyone working at the show is very accommodating with the guests. The show is a good starting point if you want to see and hear some traditional Japanese instruments played along with explanations of how they are played or their origins. However, I wished the event focused more on the musicians playing (which was about 30% of the alleged 60-minute event) and less on the talking. The host translates the explanations of the musicians about the instruments from Japanese into English (which is fine), but spends too much time (on multiple occasions, even during the show) trying to sell more stuff, like advertising their other show, the merchandise they sell at the venue, their YouTube channel or asking the audience to leave good reviews. I understand that the musicians need publicity to keep growing and support to keep playing, but there are other less predatory ways of doing that. It was really hard for me to enjoy the moment and the music with someone repeatedly asking to spend money mid-show. The host also tries to engage with the audience (which in theory, is fine). However, she would ask questions like "Which places of Japan have you visited?". Some was intended to tie the answers back to the show (e.g. origin of the instruments), but a lot of time was spent on trying to engage the audience that could have been spent actually listening to the music. In general, I had the impression that the host was leading the show, telling the musicians what to say and when, at times subtly interrupting them. At one point the host asked the audience to guess the age of the koto player. She’s 25 but looks younger, and someone in the crowd yelled out “15”. Watching a skilled professional get reduced to an age guessing game was uncomfortable and completely out of place. It also made me wonder if this is something the host asks at every show. If so, that means the musician is repeatedly put in a position where strangers publicly announce how young they think she looks. That’s not a harmless bit of banter. It chips away at how seriously she’s treated onstage and forces her to hear other people’s perceptions of her appearance over and over. Many musicians, especially young women, work hard to build a career and shouldn’t have to put up with commentary that undercuts her professionalism. If the goal was to build rapport with the audience, there are far better ways to do it without putting a performer in the spotlight for the wrong reasons. I'm leaving three starts because I still want to support the musicians, but seriously, the host doesn't deserve the three starts and should really reconsider some of her choices. Knowing what I know now, I wouldn't visit but find traditional music concerts instead.

One of the best experiences in Tokyo! We were able to enjoy the beautiful melody of traditional japanese instruments and also learning about their history, in a very intimate performance. Ideal for people who love music.

This was an incredible experience that anyone and everyone should try to see when visiting Tokyo. The music was incredible and the explanations of the instruments, music, and history make the experience so much richer. I can't recommend this highly enough.

It was such a unique and amazing experience! A fun and masterful performance featuring historical Japanese music and instruments, and awesome introductions about the history and the instruments. The 1 hour show flew by, I enjoyed every second! Next time I’m in Japan, I’d gladly book again ❤️❤️❤️

I really enjoyed this show! The staff was very welcoming and the musicians were truly amazing. The experience is tailored to an English-speaking audience with translations provided and introductions to the instruments. I wish the show was a little longer; the time passed so quickly because it was so cool!

Thanks AioiSIX, I had a great time seeing the Program B performance. Things to know if you're considering going: - they're impressive musicians. They played mainly more traditional music, as well as 2 of their own arrangements of modern songs. All were lovely to listen to, although Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit admittedly took me out of the moment a bit. - it really is intimate, it was 3 rows of seats, about 10 seats wide, so everyone had a good view. - information about the instruments and music was said in Japanese and English. - it's aimed at tourists, but I wouldn't say it felt touristy (although they said they played the Nirvana song to get better traction online). - arriving at the address, there was an attendant outside who pointed out the entrance (Hall60 behind the MIZUcafe). - they let you take pictures and video at any time, but not with shutter sound. Unfortunately, my phone/eSIM forced me to use the shutter sound while in Japan, so I only took one video (not sure how to get around that). - I couldn't get phone reception in the venue. - after the show, some people got photos with the performers, and they also sold some merchandise (t-shirts, tote bags, CDs, little instrument replicas). I didn't pick anything up, but a fair few people did. Loved the small venue, but hopefully they outgrow it, because they deserve to be playing to bigger crowds.

We went to the Zakuro show as a group of 6. We were blown away by the kindness and knowledge of the musicians and staff. It was an incredible curated experience of traditional Japanese music prepared for those who hadn't had much exposure to it beforehand. The musicians are incredibly skilled and passionate about their craft. They provided context and explanations between musical pieces. For the low admission price, this was an incredible experience. We heartily recommend for anyone to pay Zakuro Show a visit during their stay in Tokyo.

A must see in Tokyo, we were blown away by the combination of beautiful music, fascinating explanations of the instruments and the history of classical Japanese music, popular composers & traditional folk, zen and kabuki music. The translation was excellent. We loved seeing and learning how the instruments worked and it was lovely to have each musician & instrument have a solo performance. It was also very personal and light hearted and the group clearly have a great sense of humour to go with their love of their music. We cannot recommend this enough! Arigato gozaimasu Aioi Six!

One of my must-dos on this trip was to go to a place where I could listen to traditional music with traditional Japanese instruments, and searching online I came across this concert. I went to the first concert of the afternoon intending to do other things afterwards, but it went by so quickly and I enjoyed it so much that I decided to buy another ticket for the next performance (I was lucky that there were still some seats available). The show is very enjoyable, interspersing pieces of music with explanations that help you get to know the instruments you are listening to better, making the time fly by. I know for sure that when I return to Japan, the first thing I'll do is look for another concert I can attend.

Was a really magical experience to listen to the traditional instruments. Musicians played both traditional and modern music, very entertaining. And they even talk a bit about the instruments itself with demonstrations of what the instruments van do and why they’re special. Recommend a lot

It was an amazing experience, really nice music, i recommend it 100%, they explain you the instruments and how they use it, a llotle bit of history about the music and instruments

The show was amazing! Incredible instruments and musicians! We were transported to Japan of the old days and we were gifted with explanations of all instruments! Wonderful!

Great show with super musicians and an MC whose informed and animated welcome and translations made the concert a unique and pleasurable experience. Each of the performers is an artist in his or her own right; however, the ensemble was tight [really good work] and the musicians were most personable. Through a varied palette of traditional Japanese (yes, Sakura) and contempory familiar rock/pop arrangements, Aioi 6 more than achieved it's goal of engaging its audience.

My second time going in 2 years, on this occasion I bought the A and B tickets, and it was definitely worth it. One of the highlights of my Japan trips for sure.

These were very talented musicians. The explanations between musical numbers was very educational and the interpretor did a great job.

Absolutely amazing! Such a fun and unique way to experience Japanese culture through music. We loved how educational insights were shared throughout the show — it really set the experience apart. The musicians were impressive, and everything was well organized (we even had time at the end to take photos with the musicians in their traditional clothing and the instruments). Truly a must-see in Tokyo!

The music was a good mix of traditional and contemporary, in addition to an explanation of each instrument which we found very interesting. The instrumentalists are of very high skill, and of great personality. A real gem that is highly recommended from us.

It was an awesome experience, we enjoyed every minute of it! The musicians were so good and thanks to the translater lady we learned some interesting information about their instruments history as well. My favorite part was a cover of one of the popular songs :) Highly reccommend who like to know more about japanese culture

Amazing experience for anyone who loves music and/or Japanese culture! Each instrument was explained between songs to provide musical, technical, and cultural knowledge. The musicians were incredible, and the translator did a wonderful job!

One of our fondest memories in Tokyo! Such talented musicians, playing traditional instruments and sharing about their history. If we could, we would go back every week! 100% recommend for anyone looking for a cultural authentic experience in Tokyo.

This traditional Japanese music performance was exceptional. Each instrument was introduced with clear explanations, allowing us to truly appreciate their history and unique sound. From the delicate koto to the vibrant bamboo flutes and drum, every moment was filled with emotion and artistry. We also learned about the historical context of the pieces performed, which made the experience even more enriching. Including some surprisingly chanting, completely different from what I expected! As it was my last activity in Japan, it felt like the perfect way to say goodbye – or rather, to leave with a heart full of connection. I was genuinely tempted to stay and keep talking with the musicians longer. Highly recommended to anyone looking for an authentic cultural experience!

Our group of four loved seeing this performance! Small, intimate audience. Excellent musicians and informative commentary about the instruments and music. Excellent English interpreter. Photo opportunities throughout and after the show.

Show was intimate and had no more than 15 people, theres time to ask questions at the end as the ensemble and english translator stay on for a time. The show went for about an hour and they managed to fit all the instruments in and display their skills. The ensemble recreated some theme music from game of thrones which sounded better than the original in my opinion. Very impressed. Translator was very good.

Beautiful! The unique experience of the traditional Japanese instruments. Beautiful Japanese music, but they also played Nirvana on it. 🙂

What an amazing experience!! The music played on traditional instruments was so beautiful, and it was very interesting to learn about each of the instruments. All the musicians were excellent and the host translated everything perfectly so we could understand. We felt we gained a special insight into the culture and history of Japan. Highly recommended!

The music was beautiful (I cried a little lol), it was informative as well, we learned a lot about japanese traditional instruments and the musicians were lovely and funny. 10/10 would do again. 👍🏻

An incredible performance that goes above and beyond! Not only was the music presented so varied but the knowledge shared about each instrument really brought you closer to understanding traditional Japanese music. Both translator and performers were incredibly passionate both in terms of their playing and their generosity in sharing this wonderful cultural experience. Highly, highly recommend!

A wonderful experience in Kyoto! The concert was lovely, the explanations were very interesting, and the class after the concert was great. Highly recommended!

An absolute must do in Tokyo! The music show comprised of a mix of traditional and modern tunes with a folk twist. Each of the highly skilled performers gave a fascinating history of their instrument and allowed us to appreciate Japanese folk music and its strong place in the world today. As a musician myself I loved it, cannot recommend enough

Fascinating experience, amazing music. There are few seats, so one can see the players really close. My eyes were darting every three second, I could not decide whom to watch! The environment is relaxed and welcoming. You also get information about the instruments, which makes the experience even more interesting. We only wished it would have lasted double the time!

An absolute super cool experience! I loved it and enjoy every moment of the show. I wish it never end, had shivers listening to that amazing group of music. Definitely a must go if you are traveling to Japan!!!

The musicians were Top Notch and the music was very beautiful and I enjoyed the explanations and learning about the instruments. I do wish it was longer especially for the cost involved. Even so I would recommend it they all played beautifully and everyone was very gracious. Also if you go allow extra time to get there. The trains are crowded and this place is a little hard to find

An absolutely amazing and unforgettable experience. Being so close to the performers was entrancing. The explanations of the history of the instruments was informative and entertaining!

This was a wonderful experience. The show was perfect, well-organised, and the music was exceptional. I just wish the show was longer!!

Fantastic experience! Outstanding musicians whomcan really groove on traditional Japanese instruments majing this wonderful musical tradition accessible to the Western ear. Transformative evening!

The performance is completely above expectations with professional performers, enjoyable music and introduction! Strongly recommended!

Very nice show of classical and contemporary Japanese music, presented with fascinating information about the technique of the instruments and their historical origins. Very much recommendable.