A traditional Maibara performing art with pounding drums and prayers for rain
Asahi Hōnen Taiko Odori
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Every year on October 10 / Every year
- Location
- Asahi Hachiman Shrine
- Area
- Shiga Prefecture・Maibara 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
Asahi Hōnen Odori is a rain-making dance passed down in Maibara City, Shiga Prefecture. Dancers wearing drums on their chests perform a dance offering in the , together with bells, flutes, and songs. This local performing art has been passed down through generations and is also designated as a Selected Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan.
About Asahi Hōnen Taiko Odori
Asahi Hōnen Taiko Odori is a rain-making folk performance passed down in Asahi, Santō-chō, Maibara City.
It is performed to pray for rain during droughts and also to express gratitude when rain falls.
The dancers wear drums on their chests and dance in the shrine grounds to the accompaniment of bells, flutes, songs, and festival music.
It is a traditional event that brings together local prayers and performing arts.
Source: 国指定文化財等データベース
Festival highlights
A highlight is watching dancers in folded-brim hats and kalsan trousers move as they beat the drums on their chests.
Songs and festival music performed with vocals, flutes, drums, and bells overlap as the dance progresses to a scene in which the performers circle the shrine.
Children also join in with gourd-swinging dances, adding color to the performance through their different costumes and roles.
Source: 朝日豊年太鼓踊(国選択無形民俗文化財)／米原市
A traditional Maibara performing art with pounding drums and prayers for rain
What to expect
The rain-making dance begins with the performers entering the dance area to the accompaniment of the procession music, then forming a circle to the accompaniment of the road procession music.
This is followed by pieces such as Ba-narashi, Michiyuki, Tarafuku, and Karasu-tobi, as the performers circle the shrine singing rain-making songs.
After the rain-making dance comes the gratitude dance, followed by gourd-swinging dances and a performance on two tatami mats.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Asahi Hachiman Shrine.
1206 Nagaoka, Santō-chō, Maibara City, Shiga Prefecture.
- Train and bus
Take a bus bound for Tenma or the Visitor Center from Nagahama Station on the JR Hokuriku Line. The ride takes 30 minutes; the Asahi bus stop is right nearby.
- Parking
There is no parking.
Source: 祭・イベント詳細： 朝日豊年太鼓踊｜（一財）都市農山漁村交流活性化機構（まちむら交流きこう）
Address 1206 Nagaoka, Santō-chō, Maibara City, Shiga Prefecture
Dates and season
- Season
Every year on October 10
- 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 Shiga Prefecture / Maibara City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Origins and History of Asahi Hōnen Taiko Odori
There are several traditions about the origins of Asahi Hōnen Taiko Odori.
According to Maibara City’s information, it is said to have begun about 1300 years ago, when Ōhara-go was being cleared for cultivation. Another account says that bells and drums came to be used after a heavy rain fell when Toyotomi Hideyoshi sounded military bells and drums during the Battle of Shizugatake.
It was once performed widely, but is now preserved in only some districts.
Official information
Maibara City’s visitor information provides an overview of Asahi Hōnen Taiko Odori and access details.
The National Cultural Properties Database introduces the performance and the structure of the rain-making and gratitude dances.
Asahi Hōnen Taiko Odori at a Glance
Asahi Hōnen Taiko Odori is a traditional performing art of Maibara City that expresses prayers for rain and gratitude when rain falls.
Dancers wearing drums on their chests perform several pieces together with bells, flutes, and songs in and around the shrine grounds.
There is information about the event being held annually on October 10 at Asahi Hachiman Shrine, and visitors are advised to use public transportation.
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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