In 1670, the shogunate issued licenses to four theatres in the city, forbidding the others, including the Kawarazaki-za, from operating.

The Kawarazaki-za was, therefore, largely inactive until 1735, when it obtained the license from the bankrupt Morita-za, losing it once more in 1744.

The theatre then reacquired the Morita-za's license from 1790 to 1797, producing a number of plays including Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura in 1794.

The fourth period of operation, from 1800 to 1808, saw performances by the Morita family of actors from the Morita-za.

Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami was performed for the first time at the Kawarazaki-za in 1802, featuring a number of actors of the Ichikawa family.