Akadama’s ancient ritual, brought to life by the Oni-mai, Koshika-mai, and Hanagasa Odori
Akadama Shrine Ritual
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Every year April / Every year
- Location
- Akadama Shrine
- Area
- Niigata Prefecture・Sado City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 40 min–2 h 10 min · bullet 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
- 2026/11/11
The Akadama Shrine Ritual, passed down in Akadama, Sado City, is an ancient ritual featuring the Oni-mai, Koshika-mai, and Hanagasa Odori.
About Akadama Shrine Ritual
The Akadama Shrine Ritual is an ancient ritual passed down in Akadama, Sado City.
In Akadama, Ryotsu District, it is said to have been brought from Kyoto by a warrior known as Ukyo.
Every year on the festival day of Akadama Shrine in April, the Oni-mai, Koshika-mai, and Hanagasa Odori are performed.
Festival highlights
The highlight is the three offering dances, each with a different role.
The Oni-mai purifies the land and wards off misfortune, while the Koshika-mai is performed as a love dance in which a male and female deer entwine.
In the Hanagasa Odori, boys and girls wearing flower hats offer a dance praying for a bountiful harvest.
Akadama’s ancient ritual, brought to life by the Oni-mai, Koshika-mai, and Hanagasa Odori
What to expect
On the festival day of Akadama Shrine, three dances are offered as part of the ritual.
First comes the Oni-mai, which purifies the land and wards off misfortune. The Koshika-mai portrays a love dance in which a male and female deer entwine.
In the Hanagasa Odori, boys and girls wearing flower hats offer a dance for a bountiful harvest.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Akadama Shrine / Akadama, Sado City
Address Akadama, Sado City
Dates and season
- Season
Every year April
- Frequency
Every year
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 Niigata Prefecture / Sado City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
佐渡博物館
新潟県佐渡市にある博物館
佐渡島の金山
新潟県佐渡市にある世界遺産
Origins and History of Akadama Shrine Ritual
The Akadama Shrine Ritual is an ancient ritual passed down in Akadama, Ryotsu District.
It is said to have been brought from Kyoto by a warrior known as Ukyo.
It was designated an intangible folk cultural property of Sado City in Heisei 16 March 1.
Official information
Sado City Official Website, “Sado City Designated Folk Cultural Property: Akadama Shrine Ritual”
Akadama Shrine Ritual at a Glance
The Akadama Shrine Ritual is an intangible folk cultural property passed down in Akadama, Sado City.
Every year on the festival day of Akadama Shrine in April, the Oni-mai, Koshika-mai, and Hanagasa Odori are performed.
A dance to purify the land and ward off misfortune, a deer courtship dance, and a flower-hat dance praying for a bountiful harvest are the distinctive features of this ritual.
Sources and references
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/11/11
