Hitoyama Theater is a rural kabuki (noson kabuki) playhouse located within the precincts of Rikyu Hachimangu Shrine in the Hitoyama district of the town of Tonosho. The structure, which features a thatched hip roof with tiles on the awning only, measures 17 meters by 8.8 meters in size. Inside the building is a revolving stage, used to change scenes during a Kabuki performance.
The theater came to be built here when, in celebration of the completion of Kaerugo-ike Reservoir by a village chief in Hitoyama district in 1686 (Jokyo 3), a small hut was built to stage a kabuki performance. The current theater was built in 1900 (Meiji 33).
A grand kabuki performance is held on this stage once a year on May 3rd by members of the Noson Kabuki Preservation Society.
In front of the stage is gallery seating, featuring ten tiers across a gentle slope. This is where the audience lays down their mats and eats boxed lunches as they enjoy the performance. Facing the stage on the left is a structure called takaza, two-storied spectator seating with tatami flooring. Connecting the first floor dressing room to the stage is a temporary walkway. Slightly further away to the east is a costume warehouse that stores an array of costumes and props you can visit when no kabuki performances are being held.