Kagura MeguriKagura: Japan's sacred dance theatre
Find a performance, plan your visit and know what to expect.
Kagura is music and dance performed as an offering to the gods at Shinto shrines. Masked dancers bring Japanese myths to life to the beat of drums, flutes and gongs. Japan has more than 4,000 kagura traditions, and many are still kept alive by local people in village shrines, theatres and festivals.[1]
This site lists kagura performances from all over Japan. The event pages are in Japanese, but your browser can translate them for you (see the first-timer's guide).
First-timer's guide Kagura styles by region History
Why see kagura?
Close to the stage
Many performances take place in small shrines and halls. Visitors are welcomed as part of the community, and you are often just a few steps from the dancers.[2]
Easy to follow
Most plays are based on myths and folk tales, with clear-cut heroes and monsters. The costumes and masks tell you who's who, and some shows feature lightning-fast costume changes and fire-breathing serpents.[3]
Different in every region
The rhythm, costumes and plays change from one valley to the next, and travelling to see different styles is half the fun.
Upcoming performances
| Date | Style | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 24, 2026 | Hiroshima Kagura | 呉の神楽 戸田神楽 | Hiroshima, 呉市 |
| Oct 28, 2026 | Tosa Kagura | 永渕百手・永渕神楽 | Kochi, 長岡郡大豊町 |
| Nov 3, 2026 | Shonai Kagura | 庄内神楽祭り(由布市庄内町ふるさと祭り) | Oita, 由布市 |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Horowasan Shimotsuki Kagura | 保呂羽山の霜月神楽 | Akita, 横手市 |
| Nov 8, 2026 | Iwami Kagura | 第49回美都町神楽競演大会 | Shimane, 益田市 |
| Nov 13, 2026 | Hanamatsuri | 花祭(東栄町 小林) | Aichi, 北設楽郡東栄町 |
| Nov 15, 2026 | Bitchu Kagura | 高梁子ども神楽クラブ 備中神楽 定期公演 | Okayama, 高梁市 |
| Nov 15, 2026 | Ondake Kagura | 神楽会館 11月一般公演(御嶽神楽) | Oita, 豊後大野市 |
All performances (Japanese) Map (Japanese) This weekend (Japanese)
Where to see kagura
Regular shows run on fixed days, which makes them easy to plan around. Festival performances take place on set dates, often at night.
| Where | Schedule | Style |
|---|---|---|
| Takachiho Shrine, Miyazaki | Every night, 20:00-21:00 | Takachiho Kagura |
| Hiroshima Prefectural Cultural Centre | Every Wednesday | Hiroshima Kagura |
| Hot-spring towns and shrines in Shimane (Hamada, Masuda, Gotsu, Yunotsu) | Most weekends, in the evening | Iwami Kagura |
| Korakuen Garden, Okayama | Monthly, usually the second Sunday | Bitchu Kagura |
| Kagura Kaikan, Oita (Kiyokawa) | Monthly | Ondake Kagura |
| Toei Town, Aichi | November to January | Hanamatsuri |
See every style and where to find it
Sources
- 全国神楽継承・振興協議会 (全国神楽継承・振興協議会; Japanese) ↩
- 高千穂の夜神楽(概要) (観光庁 地域観光資源の多言語解説文データベース; Japanese) ↩
- 迫力満点！広島神楽の見どころチェック (広島県(徹底解剖！ひろしまラボ); Japanese) ↩