Inaba Kirin Lion Dance

Festival highlights

A highlight is its distinctive dance: the head turns slowly as if crawling along the ground, twists, then rises as though stretching upward.

The kirin lion is often danced alone, accompanied by a Shōjō with a red mask, costume, and hair, who acts as a guide or playful attendant.

The relatively gentle music, including the calm strikes of the gong, is another defining feature of this Inaba tradition.

Source: 例祭の暦 ～麒麟獅子を巡る～｜特集｜鳥取市観光サイト【公式】 - 鳥取市のおすすめ観光・旅行情報

A traditional Inaba performing art, alive with a kirin head and gentle music

What to expect

At festivals, the dance is traditionally first performed before the deity at the shrine, followed by visits to parishioners’ homes.

In the dance, two adults inside a body cloth form a single kirin, slowly turning and twisting its head and raising it as if stretching upward.

In some areas, a Shōjō leads the kirin, while music played on drums, flutes, and gongs supports the dance.

Source: 因幡・但馬の麒麟獅子舞のご紹介 - 鳥取市公式ウェブサイト（文化交流課）

How to take part

必要人数：大人二人（麒麟獅子一頭）

Location and access

Address

Tottori City, Iwami Town, Wakasa Town, Chizu Town, Yazu Town

Host municipality 鳥取県鳥取市、岩美町、若桜町、智頭町、八頭町

This map shows the surrounding area, not the exact venue location.

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Dates and season

Kirin shishimai has been passed down mainly through jinja reisai held in spring and autumn.

Festival dates vary by area, and in eastern Tottori Prefecture it can be seen in many places from March to July and from September to November.

For the specific reisai dates and venues in 2026, check the information provided by each area.

Origins and History of Inaba Kirin Lion Dance

As for its origins, it is thought to have begun when Mitsunaka Ikeda, the first lord of the Tottori domain, established Tottori Toshogu Shrine in 1650 and introduced the Kirin Lion Dance into the festival procession in 1652.

One explanation for the use of a kirin head is that the kirin, seen as a symbol of good governance, represented Mitsunaka’s resolve and his connection with Ieyasu.

The dance is said to have later spread throughout Inaba and into the Tajima region through domain festivals.

Official information

The official Tottori City website introduces the characteristics and origins of the Kirin Lion Dance in Inaba and Tajima, when and where it is performed, and efforts to preserve and pass it on.

The Tottori City tourism website features a guide to visiting festivals that include the Kirin Lion Dance.

The National Database of Cultural Properties also provides information on the distribution and dance characteristics of the Inaba Kirin Lion Dance.

Source: 国指定文化財等データベース

Inaba Kirin Lion Dance at a Glance

The Inaba Kirin Lion Dance is a folk performing art from the Inaba region, passed down through its kirin-shaped lion head and a leisurely dance performed by two people.

Through performances at shrine festivals and visits to parishioners’ homes, the dance has become part of local life.

Enjoy a distinctive tradition woven from the kirin lion, Shōjō, and gentle music at festivals held throughout the region.