Local Trip Info offered by
Washington Hotel and Hotel Gracery

Born in the Tokyo Olympic Year, 1964! The Birthplace of Rakugo Legendary Masters “Asakusa Engei Hall”

“Asakusa Engei Hall” (浅草演芸ホール) is one of 5 Tokyo’s ‘Rakugo Joseki’ (落語定席, We describe later) including Suzumoto Engei Theatre (Ueno), Shinjuku Suehirotei, and Ikebukuro Engei Theater. You can find this hall when walking along the shopping street ‘Asakusa Rokku-Dori Street‘ (浅草六区通り) with 15 street lights decorated with photos of 33 celebrities who are relater to this district. This time, we’re going to introduce the history of such “Asakusa Engei Hall.”

浅草演芸ホール外観(Appearance of Asakusa Engei Hall)

Rokku, where Asakusa Engei Hall is located, had been developed as an entertainment district after the opening (1887) of ‘Tokiwaza’ which was famous for Asakusa Opera. In 1951, ‘Asakusa France-za’ was opened as a strip theater. And then, in 1964 of the Tokyo Olympic Year, Asakusa Engei Hall made on the 4th and 5th floor of the same building.

Not only Rakugo legendary masters such as Katsura Bundaku and Sanyuei Ensho but also young storytellers at that time such as Tachikawa Danshi and 5th Sanyutei Enraku appeared. That’s why this hall gathered attention from lots of people although it was the begging of the television era.

Currently, Asakusa Engei Hall is one of the ‘Rakugo Joseki’ where various entertainment shows including Rakugo and magic shoes, Manzai and mimicking are performed 365 days a year (It might be closed depending on the situation). Still now, this hall has continued to be the birthplace of a new history of Japanese comedy. You can enjoy entertainment shows anytime you want to watch regardless of the daytime and nighttime.

Opening Hours11:40AM – 9:00PM Open All Year Around
*It might be closed depending on the situation.
Address1-43-12, Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo Prefecture
AccessHotel Gracery Asakusa: A 8-minute walk from the hotel
Akihabara Washington Hotel: 30 seconds walk from Asakusa Station which is 2 stations away from Akihabara Station on the Tsukuba Express Line
Hotel Tavinos Asakusa: A 5-minute walk from the hotel
URL https://www.asakusaengei.com/

Base of this trip

  • Hotel Gracery Asakusa
    Hotel Gracery Asakusa

    3-min walk from Asakusa station on the Toei-Asakusa line / 5-min walk from Asakusa station on the Asakusa line

  • Akihabara Washington Hotel
    Akihabara Washington Hotel

    1-min walk from JR Akihabara station / 2-min walk from Akihabara station on the Hibiya line

  • Hotel Tavinos Asakusa

    4-min walk from Asakusa station on the Tsukuba Express line / 9-min walk from Tawaramatchi station on the Tokyo Metro line / 12-min walk from Asakusa station on the Toei Asakusa line