A traditional procession in Sakanoshita, Kamakura, featuring Gigaku masks and a mikoshi
The Menkake Procession of Goryo Shrine
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- September 18
- Location
- Goryo Shrine
- Area
- Kanagawa Prefecture・Kamakura City(From Tokyo: approx. 30 min–1 h · 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
- 2026/10/26
The Menkake Procession of Goryo Shrine is a festival procession in Sakanoshita, Kamakura, that uses masks from Gigaku, the masked drama of the Nara period. The 10 masked performers, musicians, and proceed in a line, while Kamakura is also performed in the .
About The Menkake Procession of Goryo Shrine
The Menkake Procession of Goryo Shrine is a masked procession held as part of the festival at Goryo Shrine in Sakanoshita, Kamakura City.
It is known as a cultural heritage that uses masks from Gigaku, a masked drama that flourished in the Nara period, and preserves the now-rare Gigaku-mask pageant tradition.
A festival procession featuring the dōshin, kanabō, hayashi musicians, banners, sacred treasures, Sarutahiko, a shishigashira, 10 masked performers, and a mikoshi.
Source: 御霊神社の面掛行列 文化遺産オンライン
Festival highlights
A highlight is the procession of 10 masked performers in a prescribed order.
The masks appear in this sequence: Old Man, Demon, Strange Figure, Long Nose, Elder, Karasu Tengu, Fukurokuju, Fire Blower, Okame, and Woman (sanba), each passed down under a different name.
The belly of Okame, who represents a pregnant woman, is considered a symbol of abundant harvests and catches, expressing the festival’s wishes within the procession.
A traditional procession in Sakanoshita, Kamakura, featuring Gigaku masks and a mikoshi
What to expect
The procession begins with the dōshin and kanabō, followed by the hayashi musicians, banners, sacred treasures, Sarutahiko, a shishigashira, 10 masked performers, and the mikoshi.
The masked performers line up in a prescribed order, from the Old Man to the Woman (sanba).
On the day of the festival, Yu-bana Kagura, part of Kamakura Kagura, is also performed in the grounds of Goryo Shrine, in addition to the procession.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Goryo Shrine (Sakanoshita, Kamakura City)
Address Sakanoshita, Kamakura City
Dates and season
- Season
September 18
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 Kanagawa Prefecture / Kamakura City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
佐助稲荷神社
神奈川県鎌倉市佐助にある神社
写真：Houze from San Francisco / CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo source ·
鎌倉宮
神奈川県鎌倉市二階堂にある神社
鶴岡八幡宮
神奈川県鎌倉市雪ノ下にある神社
Origins and History of The Menkake Procession of Goryo Shrine
Gigaku, whose masks are used in the procession, was a masked drama that flourished in the Nara period to spread Buddhism, but later declined.
The masked procession is said to have once been part of the festival at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, and a similar procession was also held at Yakumo Shrine in Yamanouchi, Kamakura City.
After the Meiji period, it was no longer held at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, and at Yakumo Shrine only the masks came to be displayed. For this reason, Goryo Shrine is considered the only place where the Menkake Procession is still preserved today.
Official information
Kamakura City introduces the Menkake Procession of Goryo Shrine as a cultural property designated by Kanagawa Prefecture.
The Kamakura City Board of Education works with the Kamakura Folk Performing Arts Preservation Association to preserve local performing arts.
Source: 鎌倉市／鎌倉の郷土芸能について
The Menkake Procession of Goryo Shrine at a Glance
The Menkake Procession of Goryo Shrine is a local performing art of Kamakura, featuring a procession of Gigaku masks, a mikoshi, hayashi musicians, and others.
The 10 masked performers, including the Old Man, Demon, and Strange Figure, follow a prescribed order. The Okame character, who represents a pregnant woman, is considered a symbol of abundant harvests and catches.
Yu-bana Kagura, part of Kamakura Kagura, is also performed in the shrine grounds, making this a cultural heritage that preserves the rare Gigaku-mask pageant tradition.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/26
Submit information or a correction Submit photos of this festival
