Awa Odori Kaikan Museum in Tokushima

         If you can not attend the Awa Odori in August, be sure to make a visit to the Awa Odori Kaikan, a museum dedicated to the dance festival, when you are in Tokushima. The modern building houses a museum with props and costumes that explains the history of the dance. There is also a hall with 250 seats where visitors can watch a 40-minute performance and even have a chance to try the steps themselves. In addition, the Kaikan has an excellent gift shop with handmade regional items such as carved bamboo, aizome indigo textiles, and gift boxes of food. There is an information center on the first floor, and the fifth floor is the station for the Mt.Bizan cable car.The museum is open from 9 am to 5 pm. The adult admission fee is 300, and elementary and middle school students are 150. The dance performance costs 500 for adults or 250 for elementary or middle school students. The daytime performers are all volunteers. The shows run at 2, 3, and 4 pm on weekdays, with an additional performance at 11 am on weekends and holidays. There is also a nighttime performance of professional dancers which runs from 8 to 8:50 pm. This show costs 700 for adults or 350 for elementary and middle school students. There are discount packages for combinations of the museum and show.

This video by denloth is Sasa-ren performing at the Awa Odori Kaikan.

             The Awa Odori Kaikan is only a 10 minute walk from Tokushima Station and bus terminal. The museum website is only in Japanese: https://secure.awaodori-kaikan.jp/  A good reference in English is: http://www.topia.ne.jp/english/tourism/e-08.html