The spirit of mountain villages carried by the folk songs and dances of Gokayama
Gokayama’s Songs and Dances
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Spring and autumn shrine festivals; the old Bon season (around August 15) / Every year
- Area
- Toyama Prefecture・Nanto 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
- Wishes behind the festival
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
Gokayama’s songs and dances are folk songs and folk dances passed down in the Gokayama area of Nanto City. Songs and dances that vary by community, including Mugiya-bushi and Kokiriko-bushi, are performed at festivals and during the old Bon season.
About Gokayama’s Songs and Dances
“Gokayama’s Songs and Dances” is a collective name for the folk songs and folk dances passed down in the Gokayama area of Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture.
Songs and dances passed down in each community, including Mugiya-bushi and Kokiriko-bushi, have been performed at festivals and during the old Bon season.
Preservation groups in three Gokayama areas pass down these traditions, which are carefully safeguarded as folk performing arts that express the character of the region.
Source: 南砺市文化芸術アーカイブズ / 国指定文化財等データベース
Festival highlights
Highlights include the distinctive singing, dancing, and sounds of instruments in each piece.
Kokiriko features dances accompanied by clacking sasara, as well as performances using kokiriko bamboo sticks, kuwagane, bo-zasara, flutes, drums, and hand drums.
In Mugiya-bushi, dancers wearing formal crested kimono, hakama, and white sashes, and carrying hats, perform a bold dance reminiscent of ancient warriors.
Source: 【公式】世界遺産五箇山 観光情報サイト〜五箇山彩歳〜世界遺産 五箇山観光情報サイト
The spirit of mountain villages carried by the folk songs and dances of Gokayama
What to expect
Gokayama’s songs and dances are performed at shrine festivals and during the old Bon season, where the songs and dances are dedicated or presented.
The repertoire varies by area: in Taira, Mugiya-bushi and Hayamugiya-bushi; in Kamitaira, Toichinsa-bushi and Gokayama Oiwake; and in Toga, Toga Kiyari and Kokiriko, among others, are passed down.
When watching a performance, you can appreciate the singers’ voices and the dancers’ movements, as well as the instruments and costumes unique to each community.
Location and access
- Address
Nanto City
Host municipality 富山県南砺市
This map shows the surrounding area, not the exact venue location.
Dates and season
- Season
Spring and autumn shrine festivals; the old Bon season (around August 15)
- 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 Toyama Prefecture / Nanto City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
In the areas where Gokayama’s songs and dances are passed down, visitors can also experience gassho-style villages and traditional culture.
At Murakami House, a National Important Cultural Property, visitors can hear about life and folk culture in Gokayama. Performances of the Kokiriko dance and Mugiya-bushi hat dance are also available by advance reservation.
Performances of Kokiriko and Mugiya-bushi are held at Gokayama-so, Gokayama Onsen.
Source: 旅の魅力を耳で感じる！ 富山を代表する民謡「おわら」「こきりこ」「むぎや」 | 特集 | 【公式】富山県の観光/旅行サイト「とやま観光ナビ」
南砺市立福光美術館
日本の富山県南砺市にある公立美術館
福野文化創造センターヘリオス
富山県南砺市の博物館・美術館のスポットです。
高瀬神社
富山県南砺市高瀬にある神社
Origins and History of Gokayama’s Songs and Dances
The origins of Gokayama’s songs and dances are told in connection with the traditions surrounding each performance and the region’s history.
Kokiriko is considered an old folk song rooted in and rice-field dances, and has been sung and danced at festivals at Hakusan Shrine.
Mugiya-bushi is associated with a tale that Heike fugitives who fled to Gokayama sang it while harvesting wheat; it has been passed down to the present by preservation groups.
Official information
The Nanto City Cultural Arts Archives provides information on the area, designation category, preservation groups, and performances passed down for “Gokayama’s Songs and Dances.”
The National Database of Designated Cultural Properties also lists its name, location in Toyama Prefecture, classification as folk performing arts, and performances at festivals and during the old Bon season.
Gokayama’s Songs and Dances at a Glance
Gokayama’s songs and dances are a folk song and folk dance tradition passed down in three areas of Gokayama, Nanto City.
Enjoy performances that vary by community, including Mugiya-bushi and Kokiriko-bushi, along with their instruments, costumes, and dance movements.
As traditional performing arts presented at shrine festivals and during the old Bon season, preservation groups pass down the songs and dances to future generations.
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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