Name: The child dances of the Hatsukae Festival
Start: 2026-04-05
End: 2026-04-05
Location: Shizuoka Sengen Shrine

A procession centered on child dancers and traditional gagaku are offered at the Hatsukae Festival at Shizuoka Sengen Shrine.

About The child dances of the Hatsukae Festival

The child dances of the Hatsukae Festival are gagaku dances performed as offerings during the Hatsukae Festival at Shizuoka Sengen Shrine.

A procession centered on child dancers makes its way through the city, and after arriving at the shrine, the dances are performed in the dance pavilion.

The five pieces still passed down today are “Enbu,” “Nasori,” “Ama and Nino Mai,” “Genjoraku,” and “Taiheiraku.”

In 2022, they were designated a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.

Source: 静岡浅間神社廿日会祭の稚児舞楽：静岡市公式ホームページ / 文化遺産データベース

Festival highlights

Highlights include the graceful gagaku court dances performed by child dancers and the “Nino Mai,” performed around them.

In “Ama,” two child dancers perform, and partway through, adults wearing masks of an old man and an old woman make comic movements that seem to imitate the children’s dance.

There is also a local saying that if a child dancer smiles, the year will bring a poor harvest, adding a distinctive charm to this formal court dance.

Shizuoka Sengen Shrine’s spring festival, brought to life by a procession and five pieces of gagaku

What to expect

During the festival, palanquins carrying child performers make their way through the city, accompanied by floats, costumed processions, and other Oneri processions.

Upon arriving at the shrine, entertainment accompanying the Oneri procession is performed before the child dancers, followed by gagaku after the grand festival rites.

The dances are accompanied by three wind instruments—ryuteki flute, sho mouth organ, and hichiriki oboe—and three drums—gakudaiko, kakko, and shoko.

How to take part

Visitors can watch the event.

Location and access

Venue and address

Shizuoka Sengen Shrine (102-1 Miyagasakicho, Aoi Ward, Shizuoka City).

Train and bus

From JR Shizuoka Station, take the Abe Line bus and get off at Aka .

Parking

Parking is available.

According to the 2026 information, there is free parking for 90 vehicles, but using public transportation or paid parking in central Shizuoka is also recommended.

Address 102-1 Miyagasakicho, Aoi Ward, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture

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Dates and season

2026 Event Information (The listed dates have passed)

In 2026, the Hatsukae Festival was scheduled to run from April 1 through the 5th, with the child dancers’ gagaku scheduled to be offered on the final day, April 5.

After the procession of child dancers arrives at the shrine, gagaku is performed following the grand festival rites.

The Hatsukae Festival is held in early April each year, and the child dancers’ gagaku takes place on April 5.

Source: 廿日会祭＜静岡浅間神社＞［静岡市葵区］｜静岡新聞アットエス / しずおか文化財ナビ静岡浅間神社廿日会祭の稚児舞｜静岡県公式ホームページ

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写真：by Monado / CC BY-SA 2.5

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Origins and History of The child dances of the Hatsukae Festival

The child dancers’ gagaku originated as dances from Tampoji Temple, formerly in what is now Tampo, Aoi Ward, Shizuoka City, which came to be performed at Sengen Shrine’s festival as well.

Historical records confirm that it was already being performed by the mid-16th century, and note that the court noble Yamashina Tokitsugu, who lived during the Warring States period, watched it.

Since the early modern period, the role of child dancer has been passed down from the sons of shogunate retainers and townspeople to children selected from among the today.

Official information

You can check the event date, venue, access, program, and highlights on the Shizuoka City official website page “Gagaku Dances by Child Performers at the Shizuoka Sengen Shrine Hatsukae Festival.”

The Shizuoka Prefecture cultural property guide also provides the location and public viewing information, listing the dances as a prefecture-designated intangible folk cultural property.