A rain-prayer furyu dance passed down in Sabuumi, Manno
Ayako Odori
The 2026 edition of Ayako Odori has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/09/06Ended
- Season / frequency
- Once every 2 years
- Location
- The grounds of Kamo
- Area
- Kagawa Prefecture・Manno Town(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 15 min–1 h 35 min · flight time only)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
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
Ayako Odori, passed down in Sabuumi, Manno, is a traditional performing art in the style of nenbutsu odori whose main purpose is to pray for rain. You can watch the public performance’s sequence of spoken introductions, multiple dance groups, and 12 small songs.
About Ayako Odori
Ayako Odori is a form of furyu dance passed down in Sabuumi, Manno, Kagawa Prefecture.
It is a performing art in the style of nenbutsu odori whose main purpose is to pray for rain, and it is designated a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
In Reiwa 4, it was also inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity as one of the “Furyu Odori.”
You can see this locally preserved and passed-down art up close during a public performance.
Source: 国指定文化財等データベース
Festival highlights
Highlights include the sequence that begins with the Naginata-mochi and Bō-mochi dancers delivering spoken introductions and dancing in the center of the dance ground, followed by an introduction from the geiji and then dances performed in rows by the child dancers, adult dancers, and side dancers.
The program includes 12 pieces, such as “Water Dance,” “Shikoku Dance,” “Ayako Odori,” and “Shinobi Dance,” with the dances unfolding to small songs.
The style of performance also retains traces of early kabuki dance.
A rain-prayer furyu dance passed down in Sabuumi, Manno
What to expect
Ayako Odori is traditionally performed first in front of the Ryuo Shrine at Mount Asahi, followed by a performance in front of Kamo Jinja.
During the public performance, you can watch the dances by the child dancers, adult dancers, and side dancers as part of a program combining spoken introductions and dance.
The dances are also noted for being performed to music featuring flute, , small hand drums, bells, and shells.
Source: 綾子踊 / 香川県 -【JAPAN 47 GO】
How to take part
The event is listed as open to the public, and visitors can watch Ayako Odori at the venue.
The available information does not say whether general visitors can take part as dancers or members of the preservation association.
If you wish to watch, please go to the grounds of Kamo Jinja during the public viewing hours.
Source: 令和８年度 綾子踊公開 - 風流踊
Location and access
- Venue and address
The grounds of Kamo Jinja (737-4 Sabuumi, Manno).
- By car
There is no parking near the venue.
Please use public transportation.
- Parking
There is no parking near the venue.
Address 737-4 Sabuumi, Manno, Nakatado District, Kagawa Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
The public performance will be held on September 6 (Sunday) in 2026.
The event runs from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Ayako Odori is listed as being performed publicly once every 2 years; it is not an annual event.
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 Kagawa Prefecture / Manno Town (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
There is no parking near the 2026 public performance venue, so visitors are advised to use public transportation rather than travel by car.
The event runs from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., so consider arriving early to catch the scenes you want to see.
The venue is the grounds of Kamo Jinja.
Nearby attractions
満濃池森林公園
香川県まんのう町にある県立森林公園
Origins and History of Ayako Odori
Ayako Odori is a form of furyu dance passed down in Sabuumi, Manno, and a performing art in the style of nenbutsu odori whose main purpose is to pray for rain.
It was designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property on May 4, 1976.
On November 30 in Reiwa 4, it was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity as one of the “Furyu Odori.”
Official information
The 2026 public performance information is posted on the official Furyu Odori website.
For inquiries, the listed contact is the Lifelong Learning Division of the Manno Town Board of Education, Kagawa Prefecture, at 0877-89-7020.
Ayako Odori at a Glance
Ayako Odori is a furyu dance passed down in Sabuumi, Manno, whose central purpose is to pray for rain. It is a nationally designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
You can watch the traditional program, including spoken introductions, dances by the child dancers, adult dancers, and side dancers, and dances set to 12 small songs.
In 2026, the public performance will be held on September 6 on the grounds of Kamo Jinja. There is no parking near the venue.
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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