A devotional dance passed down in Abira, led by conch shells and drums
Abira Taiko Odori
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- May 1 / The small dance takes place once every 5 years. The large dance is performed only in the event of drought.
- Location
- Grounds of Abira Shrine
- Area
- Shiga Prefecture・Koka City(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 20 min–3 h · bullet train + connecting train)Prefecture-level estimate to a main station or airport, not the venue. Airport access, check-in and onward travel are extra; remote areas and islands can take much longer.
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
The Abira Odori is a taiko dance offered at Abira Shrine. Demons and dancers form a procession and perform dances accompanied by conch shells, songs, and kanko drums.
About Abira Taiko Odori
The Abira Taiko Odori is a folk performing art offered on the grounds of Abira Shrine in Abira, Koka-cho, Koka City.
There are large and small dances, with differences in the performances and dance styles passed down in each local community.
Conch shells, kanko drums, songs, and processions come together in dances offered before the shrine.
It has been selected as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property for which measures such as documentation should be undertaken by the national government.
Source: 国指定文化財等データベース
Festival highlights
A highlight is the procession led by the blue and red demons holding sasara, followed by conch-shell players, singers, and dancers carrying .
The dancers suspend kanko drums from their waists and proceed toward the shrine, led by conch shells and songs.
After entering the horse grounds and performing Niwashizume, several dances that differ by community are performed.
A distinctive feature of the large dance is that local musicians, rather than the dancers, play the drums.
A devotional dance passed down in Abira, led by conch shells and drums
What to expect
The event begins with performers including those playing demons, conch-shell players, singers, and dancers forming a procession and proceeding toward the shrine.
The procession enters the horse grounds and performs Niwashizume to the singers’ songs, followed by dances passed down in each community.
Small-dance performances include the Daijunyaku Odori, Oise Odori, Ofune Odori, and Oyama Odori, among others; the program differs by community.
The drums are also handled differently in the large and small dances.
Source: 文化遺産データベース
Location and access
- Venue and address
Grounds of Abira Shrine (1042 Abira, Koka-cho, Koka City)
- Train and bus
A 30-minute walk from Abira Station on the JR Kusatsu Line.
- By car
It is a 15-minute drive from the Shin-Meishin Koka-Tsuchiyama IC, a 20-minute drive from the Shin-Meishin Kōnan IC, and a 15-minute drive from the Meihan National Highway Kamitsuge IC.
- Parking
There is parking for 10 standard-size cars.
Source: 油日神社 | 滋賀県観光情報［公式観光サイト］滋賀・びわ湖のすべてがわかる！ / 油日神社 | 甲賀市観光ガイド
Address 1042 Abira, Koka-cho, Koka City, Shiga Prefecture
Dates and season
Aburahi Taiko Odori is performed as an offering at Aburahi on May 1.
The small dance is said to be performed once every 5 years, while the large dance is performed to pray for rain during droughts.
Accommodation and hotels PR
Showing nearby accommodation.
Prices and availability are current at the time of retrieval. For multi-night stays, only the first night’s price is shown. Confirm the final price and directions to the venue with the booking provider. Select your dates again when using the area search link. Search area: within 3 km of Central Shiga Prefecture / Koka City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
MIHO MUSEUM
滋賀県甲賀市にある博物館
大鳥神社
滋賀県甲賀市にある神社
滋賀サファリ博物館
滋賀県甲賀市信楽町にある博物館
滋賀県立陶芸の森
滋賀県甲賀市の信楽高原にある博物館研究施設
甲賀の里忍術村
滋賀県甲賀市にあるテーマパーク
甲賀流忍術屋敷
滋賀県甲賀市にある忍者屋敷
矢川神社
滋賀県甲賀市甲南町森尻にある神社
飯道山
滋賀県甲賀市と湖南市の境にある山
Origins and History of Abira Taiko Odori
The Abira Taiko Odori has been passed down in a region that has long suffered from drought, as a rainmaking ritual and a festival of gratitude in response to rain.
The large dance is performed as a prayer for rain, while the small dance is a dance of thanks; different performances have been passed down in each community.
In Showa 48, it was selected as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property for which measures such as documentation should be undertaken by the national government.
Source: 神社博物館事典WEB版 - 油日神社・甲賀歴史民俗資料館
Official information
The Agency for Cultural Affairs’ Database of National Cultural Properties lists the name, category, offering location, and details of the Abira Taiko Odori.
Information on the location of Abira Shrine and how to get there is also available from Shiga Tourism and the Koka City tourism guide.
Abira Taiko Odori at a Glance
The Abira Taiko Odori is a local folk performing art offered at Abira Shrine, bringing together drums, songs, a procession, and dance.
Highlights include the procession led by the blue and red demons, performances that vary by community, and the differences between the large and small dances.
五月一日の奉納と小踊の五年に一回の周期が伝えられています。
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/19
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