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  ON THE TRIP

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Audio Time Travel is an article that allows you to enjoy your trip to Osaka while listening to a guide. In this article, you can enjoy a portion of the audio guide. You can experience the entire audio on the ON THE TRIP app.

04｜Gofukuza

The Beginning of Traveling Performers

Beyond the shopping street lies the Nose Kaido. To the west is the Gofuku Bridge, which leads to the neighboring city of Kawanishi. This bridge was historically known as the Pilgrimage Bridge until the Meiji Period, as it formed part of the pilgrimage route connecting the 33 temples of the Saigoku Pilgrimage.

Ikeda is located along the Nose Kaido and the Saigoku Kaido, which is a major thoroughfare comparable to the Tokaido of the west. Among those traveling this route were entertainers from Kyushu in pursuit of fame.

Osaka has long been regarded as an entertainment hub. Gaining recognition as an entertainer from Kyushu often required performing well in Osaka, and the Gofukuza Theater was just the place for performers to showcase their skills. Traditional entertainment ranging from kabuki, rakugo, kodan, and manzai, was presented here, delighting audiences until the end of the Showa Era.

Although the theater closed at one point, it was later revived as the Ikeda Gofukuza—a theater venue that partially reflects the architectural style of the Edo Period. It remains a beloved local institution for popular theater. The original Gofukuza theater was designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan and was moved to the open-air museum “Meiji Village” in Aichi Prefecture, where visitors can see its original structure.

Ikeda, which has nurtured countless entertainers throughout its history, may serve as the best place to launch new art forms.

This guide was created based on documents and interviews and includes some interpretation done by us at ON THE TRIP. Theories differ between experts, so try to find out what really happened on your travels!

*The information listed is current as of February 2025. Please check the website of each store or facility for the latest opening hours.