- Takarazuka city
is easy to access, so I recommend visiting it as a day
trip. During my two vacations in Japan I've stayed in
Kyoto and just took the train to Osaka & on to
Takarazuka, spent the morning in Takarazuka, went to
Osaka for the afternoon, and back to my accommodation in
Kyoto at night. You could day trip from Tokyo; it would
probably take about 4 hours to get to Takarazuka from
Tokyo.
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- It sounds like a
lot of traveling time, but actually, when riding the
pleasant shinkansen (bullet trains), even a 4 hour trip
back and forth in one day (8 hours total) is perfectly
easy and enjoyable. You just sit, sleep, read, whatever.
The trains are comfortable, no hassle and not at all
tiring. =)
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- You can watch a
performance, visit the petit museum, sit in on the video
theatre and get your photo taken dressed in a Takarazuka
costume all in one day.
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- Starting from nearly anywhere in Japan,
you can take the JR line to Osaka. Switching trains in
Osaka from the JR station to the Hankyu station is
effortless, thanks to the clear signs in English and
Japanese. The two stations are connected by a
walkway.
-
- Alternately, switch trains to go from
Osaka to Takarazuka on the JR line (that is, not
switching train stations). If you're unsure about
switching trains, just say "Takarazuka" to a rail
attendant and he will tell you the platform number you
should go to.
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- Takarazuka Dai Gekijou (Takarazuka Grand
Theatre) is about a 7 minute walk from Takarazuka station
of the Hankyu rail line. Takarazuka station is the end of
the line so you can't miss it. After exiting the train
station, you will see a building that is like a shopping
mall. The first floor is a passageway lined with shops
and has some stairs. Walk straight through this and come
out on the other side. (If you cannot use stairs, just
walk around the building by the right side. The street
curves right but ends up at the opposite side of the
shopping building.) Keep going straight along the street.
On your right side you'll pass an area of small shoppes
set below ground level (to get to them you would go down
a little walkway with iron fencing). There are stores
along the right side of the street, and you'll soon reach
the theatre. It is a large building with ivy growing on
it and has the name clearly displayed in English.
Takarazuka Bow Hall is attached to Takarazuka Dai
Gekijou, as part of the same building.
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