Two traditional dances performed by boys, bringing color to autumn in Ushimado
Karako Odori and Tachi Odori
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- 4th Sunday of October
- Location
- Shrines and other locations in Ushimado-cho and Oku-cho, Setouchi City
- Area
- Okayama Prefecture・Setouchi City(From Tokyo: approx. 3 h 10 min–3 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.
- Features
- Highlights and activities
- Participation / viewing
- Open to public participation / spectators welcome
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
Karako Odori and Tachi Odori, passed down in Ushimado-cho and Oku-cho in Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture. A folk performance centered on boys, featuring colorful costumes, swords, music, and songs.
About Karako Odori and Tachi Odori
Karako Odori and Tachi Odori are folk performing arts centered on boys, passed down in Ushimado-cho and Oku-cho in Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture.
Preservation societies for Karako Odori and Tachi Odori perform at shrines and other locations, and the dances are handed down in connection with local festivals.
In Karako Odori, boys dance in Korean-style costumes; in Tachi Odori, boys appear carrying swords and naginata.
In 1975, it was selected as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property requiring measures such as the creation of records.
Source: 国指定文化財一覧（その７） 重要民俗文化財、重要伝統的建造物群保存地区、重要無形文化財 他 - 岡山県ホームページ（文化財課） / 国指定文化財等データベース
Festival highlights
The highlights are two distinct dances performed by boys.
In Tachi Odori, after “narashi,” a musical accompaniment without singing, 2 boys playing male roles and carrying swords and 2 boys dressed as girls and carrying naginata dance to songs sung by young men.
In Karako Odori, 2 boys wearing colorful costumes in a Korean style perform a paired dance to the accompaniment of a kanko drum, transverse flute, and other music.
There is also a tradition of carrying the dancers on someone’s shoulders to the performance area.
Source: 唐子踊り｜暮らしと神道｜岡山県神社庁
Two traditional dances performed by boys, bringing color to autumn in Ushimado
What to expect
During the festival, each preservation society presents a sacred dance at a performance area, such as a shrine.
Tachi Odori begins with “narashi,” a musical accompaniment; afterward, boys carrying swords and naginata dance to songs sung by young men.
In Karako Odori, 2 boys perform a paired dance in colorful costumes, while adults from the preservation society provide flute and accompaniment.
There is also a custom in which boys who have completed their roles join the dance the following year as “saki-odori” performers.
How to take part
The dancers include boys, young men, and adults who are members of preservation groups or serve in roles in the community.
The general public may visit to watch the dances offered in dedication.
According to the information from Susa-no-o Otoko Shrine, members of the public are welcome to attend or participate if they wish.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Shrines and other locations in Ushimado-cho and Oku-cho, Setouchi City.
Karako Odori is performed at 4 locations in the district, including Susanoo-no-O Shrine.
素盞嗚男神社：瀬戸内市牛窓町牛窓4928。
Address Around shrines in Ushimado-cho and Oku-cho, Setouchi City. One of the venues for Karako Odori is Susanoo-no-O Shrine (4928 Ushimado, Ushimado-cho, Setouchi City).
Dates and season
It is held annually on the 4th Sunday of October.
Okayama Prefecture’s seasonal events calendar lists it as “Ushimado Autumn Festival: Tachi Odori and Karako Odori,” scheduled for the 4th Sunday of October.
For the Karako Odori alone, the festival is listed as taking place at 1 p.m.
Source: 歳時記おかやま - 岡山県ホームページ（東京事務所）
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 Okayama Prefecture / Setouchi City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
備前長船刀剣博物館
岡山県瀬戸内市にある博物館
Origins and History of Karako Odori and Tachi Odori
Documents show that Karako Odori was performed in the Konoura district of Ushimado by at least the end of the Edo period, but its origins are unclear.
One account holds that Korean music and dance were introduced through historical ties to the Korean envoys who called at Ushimado.
Karako Odori is designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property by Okayama Prefecture and is passed down by local preservation societies together with Tachi Odori.
In 1975, “Karako Odori and Tachi Odori,” which includes both dances, was selected as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property requiring measures such as the creation of records.
Official information
The Agency for Cultural Affairs’ Database of Nationally Designated Cultural Properties, the list of nationally designated cultural properties from Okayama Prefecture, and the Okayama Prefecture Shrine Agency’s information on provide the names, locations, traditions, and festival dates for Karako Odori and Tachi Odori.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs database lists the Karako Odori and Tachi Odori Joint Preservation Society and others as groups responsible for their preservation.
The Okayama Prefecture Shrine Agency’s information gives the venue and festival date for Karako Odori at Susanoo-no-O Shrine.
Karako Odori and Tachi Odori at a Glance
Karako Odori and Tachi Odori are traditional performing arts centered on boys, passed down in Ushimado-cho and Oku-cho in Setouchi City.
Tachi Odori, performed with swords and naginata, and Karako Odori, danced in Korean-style costumes, are presented as sacred dances to musical accompaniment and songs by young men.
It is held annually on the 4th Sunday of October. For Karako Odori, festival performances take place at several locations in the district.
A festival to enjoy while quietly observing the region’s historic culture.
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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