Iwakuni’s samurai heritage in the beat of drums and a circular dance
Iwakuni Nanjo Odori
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- It is held at events such as the Iwakuni Festival, centered around the second Sunday of October. / It has been passed down as an annual event.
- Area
- Yamaguchi Prefecture・Iwakuni City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 35 min–1 h 55 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
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
Iwakuni Nanjo Odori is a folk performing art passed down in Iwakuni City, in which dancers form a circle and dance to the accompaniment of drums and binzasara. At the Iwakuni Festival, it is dedicated at Kikko Shrine and then performed around the city.
About Iwakuni Nanjo Odori
Iwakuni Nanjo Odori is an intangible folk performing art passed down in Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture.
It is a dance handed down by the sons of samurai families and is said to reenact the military achievements of their ancestors.
Today, it is performed at events such as the Iwakuni Festival, sharing the region’s history and performing arts with the present day.
Source: 岩国南条踊｜観光スポット｜【公式】山口県観光/旅行サイト おいでませ山口へ / 国指定文化財等データベース
Festival highlights
One of the main highlights is the way dancers emerge one by one from behind a curtain bearing the Kikkawa family crest and form a circle to dance.
Songs accompany the of shime-daiko drums, handclaps, and binzasara, as the dance proceeds in a clockwise circle.
The distinctive impression comes from the dancers’ attire, including kamishimo and 唐団扇 (round fans), and movements that are simple yet vigorous and lively.
Iwakuni’s samurai heritage in the beat of drums and a circular dance
What to expect
The program consists of six sections, including “Iriha,” “Zamenki,” “Yuri Odori,” “Imofumi,” and “Hikiage.”
The dancers form a circle to the accompaniment of drums, handclaps, and binzasara, then dance in sequence to the drums and songs.
At the Iwakuni Festival, the described sequence is a dedication at Kikko Shrine followed by performances at several locations around the city.
Source: 岩国南条踊 | いわくに文化財探訪
Location and access
- Venue and address
At the Iwakuni Festival, the dance is dedicated at Kikko Shrine and then performed at several locations around the city.
The locations are Iwakuni, Nishikimi, and Yokoyama in Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture.
Event venue 山口県岩国市 岩国祭では吉香神社に奉納されたあと
This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.
Dates and season
- Season
It is held at events such as the Iwakuni Festival, centered around the second Sunday of October.
- Frequency
It has been passed down as 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 Yamaguchi Prefecture / Iwakuni City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
吉川史料館
山口県岩国市にある博物館
岩国学校教育資料館
山口県岩国市にある博物館
岩国徴古館
山口県岩国市にある博物館
柏原美術館
山口県岩国市にある博物館
Origins and History of Iwakuni Nanjo Odori
Iwakuni Nanjo Odori is a furyu dance that originated in the late medieval period. A legend links it to negotiations between Kikkawa Motoharu and Nanjo Mototsugu, lord of Haguishijo Castle in Hoki.
When the Kikkawa clan was transferred to Iwakuni in Keicho 5 (1600), the dance was brought to the castle town and performed by the sons of domain samurai.
Fragments of records from the 1630s also mention the event. In Showa 49, it was selected as an intangible folk cultural property for which measures such as the creation of records should be undertaken.
Official information
For information about the dates and dedication venue, see the Iwakuni Nanjo Odori page on the Yamaguchi Prefecture tourism website.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs’ Database of Nationally Designated Cultural Properties and Iwakuni City’s cultural properties page provide information about its origins as a cultural property, its dances, and the preservation group.
Iwakuni City’s Department of Culture, Sports and Promotion, Cultural Properties Division, is listed as the contact.
Iwakuni Nanjo Odori at a Glance
Iwakuni Nanjo Odori is a folk performing art associated with the samurai class, passed down in Iwakuni City.
A distinctive feature is the way dancers emerge from behind a curtain and perform six sections to the accompaniment of drums, binzasara, and songs.
At the Iwakuni Festival, the dance is dedicated at Kikko Shrine and performed around the city. The second Sunday of October is usually given as a guide for the timing.
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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