Ran Theatre Kyoto
Ran Theatre Kyoto
5
Theaters
This location was reported permanently closed
About
The concept of RAN is to have a fun filled night with traditional music and local sake and beer. Here you can see all the famous traditional musicians under one roof. We invited musicians from all over Japan to come to Kyoto, the centre of Japanese traditional culture to entertain you with this exciting performance. There is a mix of classic songs and songs adapted from pop culture. We invite you to enjoy a few drinks from our selection of local sake and beer while you enjoy the show. We also ask you to join in on the fun by clapping along, waving your arms side to side and maybe even joining the band!
Duration: 1-2 hours
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The area

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Neighborhood: Shinkyogoku Shopping District
Those who delight in shopping and cuisine will find themselves at home in Shinkyogoku. Lauded and visited by locals for its Nishiki Market, where baskets of fragrant spices, dried fish, and just-fried foods are piled high along the snaking streets of its enclosed outdoor shopping spaces, Shinkyogoku is not only a hub for fresh fare, but also for fast fashion fixes. Trends-in-the-making can be spotted in the tall windows of several one-of-a-kind stores featuring local labels and modish boutiques. Arcades, outdoor concert spaces, mega department stores, and small, enchanting cafes have sprung up to accommodate the increasing traffic. Whether looking for souvenirs and kitsch on Shinkyogoku Street, or scoping out the massive food court and restaurant floor at Takashimaya Department store, there's something for every wallet or purse, and a buyer for every item.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.


5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles323 reviews
Excellent
289
Very good
21
Average
8
Poor
4
Terrible
1

Luke K
Southampton, UK52 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2019 • Solo
The entire crew behind the instruments were very talented and I thoroughly enjoyed the well composed set. The mixture and introduction of the instruments were a nice touch. Also like to give the gentleman running the show thanks too as he did a superb job attending to needs. Well done all!
Written June 10, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

niknz2017
Wellington, New Zealand2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2017
I have lived in Japan for over 10 years and travelled to Kyoto several times, going to RAN theatre and listening to the music was an unexpected highlight of my trip! Wanting to find a live Shamisen perfomance for my friend, who was visiting Japan for the first time, I stumbled across RAN theatre. WOW, what an amazing evening, absolutely loved it!!! All of the muscians were very professional and were dressed in traditional clothing, they looked like they were having as much fun as us. Along with shamisen there were also taiko drums and the koto. I thought the length of the show was perfect, and there were several moments where the audience could take part and get involved. Having lived in Japan I knew some of the songs, so really enjoyed their song choices! I can't recommend RAN theatre enough! I really hope they succeed in this new venture as I think this is a wonderful experience that everyone would enjoy and there is nothing like this in Kyoto, that I know of. If you are heading to Kyoto visit RAN theatre, enjoy a sake and listen to the beautiful Japanese music. A tip - it can be difficult to find - when we went the sign was rather small so we missed it - look for the Ninja shop it's there, out the back.
Written May 27, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

iListen
Metro Manila, Philippines11 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
My brother and I decided to reserve a night here on a lark and were not disappointed.

The host was very welcoming and indulged us with a bit of talking from when we first went in all the way up to when we left.

We got introduced to a range of songs from one end of Japan to the other, along with a bit of fanservice with A Cruel Angel's Thesis. They got us to participate in a few of the songs and even taught us a bit of the drum work for a song.

Lastly, the alcohol wasn't expensive so we got to taste a good bit of their selection and developed a taste for umeshu.

I would definitely come here again and would recommend to anyone else looking for a fun way to end the night.
Written December 24, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TopCat1984
Suffolk35 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2019 • Couples
We stumbled across this theatre during our stay in Kyoto and saw a 6pm show. We got there about 20mins early and got front row seats.

The theatre itself is very small and informal. I liked that it was intimate setting being so small. It’s a bit tired looking, in need of some tlc but you are not there all day and didn’t bother me. You can purchase drinks to have during the performance.

All artists were very talented and we could have a group photo with them at the end. The music was fantastic

Not expensive and the host and artists were all so polite, it was nice to support a little theatre and worth the visit.
Written November 20, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Daiva B
Vilnius, Lithuania6 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2019
A beautiful concert, but if you only have a few days in Kyoto, you can find more interesting experiences. Not worth the money.
Written November 18, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Toi M
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2019 • Friends
The show was much more than my expectation of a fun, vibrant, entertaining and interactive performance !! The performers were extremely professional and were skilful in getting the audience to participate in their show.
My friend and I enjoyed the show throughly !! Good job !!
Written November 4, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Chris B
Crowborough, UK14 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2019
Like another reviewer, we got there early and got front row seats which are really comfy armchairs. We ordered some beers and some nibbles and settled down. The audience was quite small for this performance - maybe 12 people max, but when the performers came on stage they put everything into it. We were allowed to photo and video, we joined in and it was just a great, fun evening with lots of warmth. And of course they are all very talented musicians. Thank you!
Written October 25, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

L R
New York City, NY18 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2019 • Couples
The musicians are all incredibly talented! (I say this as someone trained in classical music.) The show wasn’t at all stuffy. It included a lot of audience participation and presented a fun and modern take on traditional Japanese music. The drinks were delicious as well. I think families and couples would all enjoy this show very much. Front row is recommended!
Written July 1, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jill
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2019 • Couples
The traditional musicians were amazing and also very engaging! Their energy made the show very fun to attend. As part of the show, they gave some background on the traditional instruments as well as some astounding performances. Would recommend this as the best thing to do in Kyoto at night!
Written June 28, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Morgan DiGiorgio
5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2019 • Family
This show was very enjoyable. My brother and I went to get a taste of some Traditional Japanese music, and it exceeded our expectations. By the time it was over, we didn’t want it to end. Well worth the price.
Written June 18, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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