The medieval elegance embodied in 9 dances by children borne on adults’ shoulders
Kamo Shrine’s Chigo-mai
The 2026 edition of Kamo Shrine’s Chigo-mai has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/09/04Ended
- Season / frequency
- September 4 / Every year
- Location
- Kamo Shrine
- Area
- Toyama Prefecture・Imizu(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.
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
At Kamo Shrine in Imizu, 4 children perform 9 dances to the accompaniment of drums and flutes. This autumn grand festival preserves traditional forms of the ritual, including a procession through the village on adults’ shoulders and the taboo against touching the ground.
About Kamo Shrine’s Chigo-mai
Kamo Shrine’s Chigo-mai is a dance performance by children offered at the autumn grand festival at Kamo Shrine in Imizu, Toyama.
Locally, it is also known as “Kattondo” and expresses gratitude for a good harvest.
4 children perform 9 dances to the accompaniment of drums and flutes, preserving the tradition of this ancient art.
It has also been selected as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property for which measures such as the creation of records should be undertaken by the national government.
Source: 稚児舞 ｜ いみず UNIQUE ｜ 射水市公式観光サイト / 加茂神社の稚児舞 | 文化遺産検索 | とやまの文化遺産
Festival highlights
A highlight is seeing the 4 children purify themselves and avoid touching the ground until the dances are over.
The children ride on adults’ shoulders through the village before proceeding to the shrine, where they begin their offerings on a stage in the .
Accompanied by drums and flutes, 9 pieces are performed, including “Hoko no Mai,” “Rinka,” and “Bairo.”
The fact that 9 dances have been passed down at a single location is also distinctive.
The medieval elegance embodied in 9 dances by children borne on adults’ shoulders
What to expect
The children first purify themselves, then ride on adults’ shoulders from the designated host’s home and tour the village.
Afterward, they proceed to Kamo Shrine and offer the dances in the dance hall or on a temporary stage in the shrine grounds.
The repertoire includes solo and duet dances, and 9 pieces have been passed down.
The children observe the taboo against touching the ground until all the dances are over.
Source: 国指定文化財等データベース
Location and access
- Venue and address
Kamo Shrine (630 Kamo Chubu, Imizu, Toyama)
- Train and bus
Get off at Kosugi Station on the Ainokaze Toyama Railway.
Take the AI on-demand bus “Noruto Imizu” from “Kosugi Station” to “Shimomura Park Golf Course,” then walk about 5 minutes.
- By car
About 15 minutes from the Toyama Nishi IC and about 20 minutes from the Kosugi IC on the Hokuriku Expressway.
- Parking
40 spaces are listed.
Source: 加茂神社の稚児舞(富山県)の詳細データ｜ウォーカープラス
Address 630 Kamo Chubu, Imizu, Toyama
Dates and season
2026 event information (the dates listed have passed)
In 2026, the event was held on September 4, and the listed schedule for the Chigo-mai offerings ran from 1 p.m. to around 5 p.m.
The official Shimomura Kamo Shrine website reports that Chigo-mai was offered at the evening festival on September 3 and at the main festival on September 4.
The annual Chigo-mai is performed at the autumn festival on September 4.
Source: 下村加茂神社【公式】
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 / Imizu (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
射水市大島絵本館
富山県射水市にある博物館
射水市新湊博物館
富山県の博物館・美術館のスポットです。
Origins and History of Kamo Shrine’s Chigo-mai
Kamo Shrine is said to have been established at its present location in 1066 as the central shrine of Kurakaki-no-sho, a domain belonging to Kamo Mioya Shrine (Shimogamo Shrine) in Kyoto.
Accounts of the Chigo-mai tradition say that it was brought from Shimogamo Shrine during the Heian period, while other accounts say it was taught by Yoshida Shrine in Kyoto during the Muromachi period.
As a performing art passed down in the region and offered to this day, it is also included in national cultural-property records.
Official information
The official Shimomura Kamo Shrine website provides information on major annual events, including Chigo-mai, and on offerings at the autumn annual festival.
Contact Kamo Shrine (0766-59-2503) or the shrine office (0766-59-2654).
Kamo Shrine’s Chigo-mai at a Glance
Kamo Shrine’s Chigo-mai is a traditional dance performance offered at Kamo Shrine in Imizu on September 4.
The 4 children ride on adults’ shoulders through the village and dance 9 pieces without touching the ground, carrying on the old forms of the festival.
In 2026, the main festival was held on September 4, with the listed schedule running from 1 p.m. to around 5 p.m.
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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