Tsugaru Shamisen in Yokohama: Play Traditional Instrument

Play a traditional Japanese instrument and hear yourself improve in a single afternoon

Learn the Tsugaru shamisen, a traditional Japanese stringed instrument, in a one-on-one class in Yokohama. You'll spend 90 minutes getting hands-on with the instrument: starting with how to hold and play it, moving through basic practice, and finishing by performing a song you learned that day. A professional instructor then plays a short live performance right in front of you. The class welcomes beginners, requires no music reading, and you can arrive empty-handed since instruments and all playing tools are provided.

The experience

What makes this different from watching a video is the one-on-one instruction: a professional player walks you through the basics of holding and playing the Tsugaru shamisen, then stays with you while you actually produce sound on the instrument. The class runs 90 minutes total, with 10 minutes spent learning what the instrument is, 15 minutes on technique, 30 minutes of actual practice, and a final 5 minutes performing the song you've just learned. After you finish, the instructor gives a 15-minute live performance so you hear what the instrument sounds like in skilled hands.

Several different shamisen are available, and you'll play more than one so you feel how each instrument responds differently. This matters: a beginner's ear picks up the variation quickly, and the physical difference, how one sits in your hands, how the strings feel under the bachi (plectrum), makes the learning stick. You come empty-handed and leave the same way. Everything you need is there, and you can head straight to work or back from school without carrying gear.

The class accepts children from age 2, and the space is wheelchair accessible. Public transportation runs nearby, and the venue itself is set up for accessible entry and movement.

What’s included

• Admission to the class.
• a Tsugaru shamisen, bachi, and full set of playing tools for the duration.
• one-on-one instruction from a professional player.
• a 15-minute live performance by the instructor after your session.

Before you book

Days and timesWednesday to Sunday

AgesAdult (16 to 69 years) · Senior (70 and older) · Youth (7 to 15 years) · Child (2 to 6 years)

GroupPrivate

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Takezo Music Gym

Is this one for you?The 90-minute session fits neatly into a morning or afternoon without eating up your whole day, leaving time to explore Yokohama before or after. If you're looking for a deeper dive into shamisen technique or want to come back for multiple lessons, this intro class gives you the foundation and the feel for whether you want to keep going.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (7 to 15 years); Child (2 to 6 years).

Can I really learn to play in 90 minutes if I've never touched a shamisen before?

Yes. The lesson skips music notation entirely and focuses on how to hold the instrument, where to place your fingers, and how to strike the strings with the bachi. By the end of the 30-minute practice block, you'll have played a simple song from start to finish. The one-on-one format means the instructor adjusts the pace to what you're picking up.

What exactly is the Tsugaru shamisen and why is it different from other shamisen?

The Tsugaru shamisen is a three-stringed instrument from northern Japan, played with a thicker, heavier bachi than other shamisen styles. The opening 10 minutes of the class covers this history and sound, so you understand what you're holding before you start playing.

Do I need to bring anything or wear anything special?

No. Arrive in whatever you're comfortable in. The instructor provides the shamisen, bachi, and all playing tools. If you want to try wearing a kimono or yukata during the lesson, that's an option you can arrange separately, but it's not required.

What happens after I finish playing? Is that it?

After you perform the song you learned, the instructor plays a 15-minute live performance right in front of you. It's a chance to hear what the instrument really sounds like in experienced hands and to sit back after your own playing.

How much of the 90 minutes is actually me playing versus listening?

You spend 30 minutes in active practice and 5 minutes performing the song you learned. The first 15 minutes covers technique, and the opening 10 minutes is the instrument introduction. After that, the 15-minute professional performance rounds out the time.