Awaji Puppet Theater

Awaji Puppet Theater (淡路人形座, Awaji Ningyōza), located in Minamiawaji, is the home of Awaji Ningyo Joruri—a captivating puppet performance style with roots in Japan’s Edo period. The theater presents daily shows in a 180-seat venue, with each puppet operated by three skilled puppeteers. The performances are brought to life with narration, dramatic chanting, and live shamisen music. Visitors receive English story summaries and can meet the puppeteers and pose with the puppets after the show.

Once thriving with 38 puppet troupes, Awaji Island was a major center for puppet theater in western Japan. To preserve the fading art, the Awaji Puppet Theater Company was founded in 1969, and since 2012, they've performed daily in their dedicated theater in Fukura. Unique to Awaji are the puppets’ large, expressive heads, which are even displayed in the lobby. Whether you're a fan of culture, history, or performance art, this interactive experience is both educational and entertaining.