National Bunraku Theatre

Osaka is the home of bunraku (a traditional Japanese form of theatre, which features large puppets on stage and narrative recited off stage) and in 1984 this 750-seat theatre was opened to keep the art alive. English-language summaries and audio guides assist you in keeping up with the storylines, but it’s enough just to watch the action and marvel at the expressions eked out of these puppets made of wood and cloth. There are several bunraku runs a year, with other forms of theatre filling the gaps in the schedule.