Five time-honored court dances performed by children carried onto the stage on adults’ shoulders
Asuno Chigo Mai
The 2026 edition of Asuno Chigo Mai has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/04/19Ended
- Season / frequency
- The third Sunday of April every year / Every year
- Location
- Asuzan Hōfukuji Temple
- Area
- Toyama Prefecture・Kurobe City(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 10 min–2 h 40 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.
- Features
- Highlights and activities
- Participation fee
- Free
- Age restrictions
- The dancers are around 10 to 14 years old
- Required number of participants
- 4 people
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
A traditional folk performing art of Kurobe City, in which four children offer five dances to flute and drum music during the Kannon-e ceremony at Asuzan Hōfukuji Temple.
About Asuno Chigo Mai
Asuno Chigo Mai is a traditional children's dance offered during the Kannon-e ceremony at Hōfukuji Temple in Asu, Unazuki, Kurobe City.
Among the chigo dances passed down at Buddhist temples in Hokuriku, few have comparable examples, and it is considered a distinctive folk performing art rooted in the local community.
Boys around 10 to 14 years old serve as dancers, keeping alive a dance closely connected to the Buddhist service.
Source: 国指定文化財等データベース
Festival highlights
A highlight is watching four children perform time-honored dances to flute and drum music.
The five pieces are “Dance with a Halberd,” “Taiheiraku,” “Rinkaraku,” “Manzairaku,” and “Senshuraku,” each preserving a different form of court dance.
A custom in which the children are carried on adults’ shoulders to the stage without stepping on the ground is also a distinctive moment of this event.
Source: 明日の稚児舞（富山県／宇奈月）｜開催期間・アクセス｜るるぶ&more.
Five time-honored court dances performed by children carried onto the stage on adults’ shoulders
What to expect
On the day of the Buddhist service, the children visit the main hall with the monks and continue dancing while the service is led by the officiating priest.
Five pieces are offered in sequence on the stage, including a dance using a halberd and a piece performed by four dancers.
As the children travel to and from the stage, they are carried on adults’ shoulders, following the custom of not stepping on the ground.
How to take part
The 4 dancers are boys aged around 10 to 14, selected from the local community; this is not a dance in which general visitors take part.
Please follow the guidance provided during the service and on the that day to find out whether you can attend as a spectator.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Asuzan Hōfukuji Temple (836 Asu, Unazuki, Kurobe City, Toyama Prefecture)
- Train and bus
A 40-minute walk from Ainoto Station on the Toyama Chihō Railway.
- By car
10 km, about 20 minutes via Prefectural Routes 14 and 13 from the Kurobe IC on the Hokuriku Expressway.
- Parking
20 spaces, free.
Address 836 Asu, Unazuki, Kurobe City, Toyama Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 Event Information (The listed dates have passed)
In 2026, it was held on April 19 (Sunday), starting at 12:30 p.m.
It is usually held on the third Sunday of April.
As the event is offered in conjunction with the Kannon-e ceremony at Hōfukuji Temple, please be mindful of the service proceedings and any instructions given on the temple grounds when visiting.
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 Toyama Prefecture / Kurobe City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
On the grounds of Hōfukuji Temple, the venue, stands “Asu’s Great Cherry Tree,” an Edo-higan cherry tree said to be about 500 years old.
The dance stage and cherry trees are on the same temple grounds, making them a good combination to see on a spring visit.
Nearby attractions also include Kurobe City Asu Campground and the Yamamoto Family Rural Culture Heritage Center.
黒部川電気記念館
富山県黒部市にある博物館
写真：江戸村のとくぞう (Edomura no Tokuzo) / CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo source ·
黒部市吉田科学館
富山県の博物館・美術館のスポットです。
Official information
You can check an overview and event information for Asuno Chigo Mai in the National Cultural Property Database and on Toyama Prefecture’s official tourism website.
Asuno Chigo Mai at a Glance
Asuno Chigo Mai is a folk performing art passed down in Kurobe City, in which four children offer five pieces during the Kannon-e ceremony at Hōfukuji Temple.
Distinctive features include entering the stage on an adult’s shoulders without touching the ground, and performing time-honored dances to flute and drum music.
In 2026, it was held on April 19, and the venue is also home to “Asu’s Great Cherry Tree,” said to be about 500 years old.
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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