01
Wadaiko – Traditional Japanese Drum Performance Okage Yokocho’s exclusive taiko drum team, Shinon Daiko, performs throughout the year at the Taiko Yagura, an open air structure in the heart of Okage Yokocho. Created in 1992, the same year that Okage Yokocho opened, the Shinon Daiko team conducts high energy drum performances with the spirit of shinon kansha, a thankfulness for nature’s generosity.
02
Japanese Picture Storytelling Performance For generations, traditional Japanese picture storytelling has charmed audiences of all ages. Continuing today, at a time when so much of our information and entertainment is conveyed through technology, the performers at the paper theatre square wish to preserve this simple form of entertainment and the deep connection that happens between entertainers and onlookers through their original materials and love of their craft.
03
Japanese Traditional Arts and Modern Arts Studio
"Expressing Japan’s Beauty through the Art of Those Who Love Ise"
Okage Yokocho has showcased the works of Yamaguchi Seishi and Tokuriki Tomikichiro, who have passionately conveyed the beauty of Ise through their art. These works have been available for viewing and purchase at the Yamaguchi Seishi Memorial Hall and Tokuriki Tomikichiro Print Gallery. Now, these spaces have been renewed as "ART and CULTURE Yamatoku," carrying forward the legacy of these two artists while providing a platform for new artists to express their creativity.
The gallery space, designed to resemble an inner storehouse, will host solo exhibitions by various artists throughout the year. During some of these exhibitions, the artists themselves will be present. The gallery shop area in the front features a range of items by various artists, inviting visitors to enjoy art in their everyday lives. After visiting Ise, take a moment to relax and find a piece of art that speaks to you.
04
Gardening & Activity Workshops As you walk westward along Okage Yokocho, with its cobblestoned streets and kizami cedar plank walls, you will come across a bridge over a small waterway on your left. Beyond the bridge, there is a 330-square-meter garden filled with seasonal flora and bonsai trees. Here, you can enjoy seasonal flowers and plants, as well as a beautiful scenery and the experience of interacting with local culture, history, and people. Why not try handcrafting to make your trip to Iseji even more memorable in Okage Yokocho?