Takachiho Yokagura Festival 2026: All-Night Kagura at the Shrine
In about twenty hamlets around Takachiho, kagura is danced from evening until dawn all winter; this festival is the two-day introduction to it.
Overview
Takachiho no Yokagura is a cycle of 33 dances retelling the myth of Amaterasu and the cave, performed through the night in private houses and community halls across the town from late November to February. It took shape between the late Heian and Kamakura periods and is designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
Because the village performances are local rites rather than shows, the Shinwa no Takachiho Yokagura Matsuri at Takachiho Shrine exists as a way for visitors to see the tradition on fixed dates.
When and where
The shrine festival is held on 22 and 23 November every year: from around 18:00 to 22:00 on 22 November, and from about 10:00 to 22:00 on 23 November. The village yokagura season runs from late November to February, with the schedule published by Takachiho Town each autumn.
Venue: the kagura hall in the grounds of Takachiho Shrine.
Getting there
Takachiho has no railway. Buses run from Kumamoto (about three hours) and from Nobeoka (about 90 minutes); many visitors drive. The shrine is a short walk or taxi ride from the Takachiho bus centre. Stay in town – performances end late and there is no onward transport.
What to expect
Masked, costumed dancing to drum, flute and gong, at close quarters.
- Dances drawn from the 33-piece cycle, performed by troupes from different hamlets
- The famous sequence around the opening of the rock cave, including the Tajikarao, Uzume and Totori dances
- Nightly hour-long Takachiho Kagura at the same shrine, year-round, from 20:00
- Takachiho Gorge and its boat rental a short distance away for the daytime
- Amano Iwato Shrine and the Amano Yasukawara cave nearby, central to the same myth
Tickets and admission
The shrine’s nightly performances charge a small admission; the November festival programme is generally open, but check on arrival. If you are invited to a village yokagura, an offering is expected – locally, a bottle of shochu with a formal wrapper, or a monetary gift of roughly 3,000 to 4,000 yen per person.
Tips for visitors
Village yokagura is a rite in someone’s home, not a performance: sit where you are shown, do not block the dancers, and do not photograph without asking. Late November nights in the mountains are cold and the halls are unheated, so bring layers. Book accommodation months ahead – Takachiho has few rooms and the season is popular.
Access and map
| Dates | 22-23 November 2026 (village season late November to February) |
|---|---|
| Venue | Takachiho Shrine kagura hall, Takachiho, Miyazaki |
| Access | Bus from Kumamoto or Nobeoka, then a short walk |
| Admission | Small charge for shrine performances |
| Official site | Miyazaki Prefecture official tourism site |
Source: Kanko Miyazaki, Miyazaki Prefecture official tourism site
Image: Photo: sk01 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
