It refers to a small room located beyond the Toya-Agemaku at the end of the Hanamichi. This is a space for actors and vehicles like a ship or palanquin waiting for their entrance onto the Hanamichi.
The room has a mirror for actors to do a final check on their costumes, wigs, or makeup. In Kabuki, it is said that “the quality of an acting is decided in the moment of the entrance from the Hanamichi”. The moment in which the actors come out of Toya is very important. Therefore, Toya is an important place for actors to concentrate before their turn. Also, at the time of an instantaneous change of roles, the actors may withdraw into this room to change their costumes.
