Katata’s traditional festival, where children’s dance and shishimai link the offerings
Katata Festival
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- November 14・15
- Location
- Katata Hachiman
- Area
- Wakayama Prefecture・Shirahama Town(From Tokyo: approx. 3 h 30 min–4 h · bullet train + connecting 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
- Last updated
- 2026/11/11
The Katata Festival is a festival in Katata, Shirahama Town, made up of Yatsuhachi (children’s dance), a procession, and . It reflects the influence of the syncretism of Buddhism and Shinto and has long been known as the “Katata Buddhist memorial service.”
About Katata Festival
The Katata Festival is a festival passed down in Katata, Shirahama Town, Wakayama Prefecture.
Long known as the “Katata Buddhist memorial service,” it is said to be a festival strongly influenced by the syncretism of Buddhism and Shinto.
It consists of three elements: Yatsuhachi (children’s dance), a procession, and shishimai, and is a prefecturally designated intangible folk cultural property.
Festival highlights
Highlights include the kasahoko assembled at Jizodo Hall, the Yatsuhachi played by the children, and the lion entering the shrine while dancing.
During the , Yatsuhachi is performed for 15 pieces from the temporary shrine facing the and subsidiary shrines.
A distinctive feature is that shishimai from both the upper and lower groups takes place at the same time, with two-person lion teams performing for an extended period.
Katata’s traditional festival, where children’s dance and shishimai link the offerings
What to expect
At the festival, a kasahoko is first assembled at Jizodo Hall. The children who perform Yatsuhachi and the shishimai then head to the shrine.
The lion enters while dancing, and a shinji is performed in which Yatsuhachi is played for 15 pieces facing the honden and subsidiary shrines from the temporary shrine.
Shishimai performed by two-person teams from both the upper and lower groups takes place at the same time.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Katata Hachiman Jinja / Katata, Shirahama Town
Address Katata, Shirahama Town, Nishimuro District
Dates and season
- Season
November 14・15
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 Wakayama Prefecture / Shirahama Town (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
アドベンチャーワールド
和歌山県西牟婁郡白浜町にあるテーマパーク
写真：No machine-readable author provided. Krisgrotius assumed (based on copyright claims). / Public domain
Photo source ·
白浜海中展望塔
和歌山県西牟婁郡白浜町にある海中展望塔
Origins and History of Katata Festival
The Katata Festival has long been known as the “Katata Buddhist memorial service.”
Passed down as a festival strongly influenced by the syncretism of Buddhism and Shinto, it became a prefecturally designated intangible folk cultural property in Showa 54 June 9.
The shishimai is said to have been learned from Koza, and the children who carry Yatsuhachi follow a tradition of rigorous ascetic purification.
Katata Festival at a Glance
The Katata Festival is a prefecturally designated intangible folk cultural property passed down in Katata, Shirahama Town.
The festival consists of Yatsuhachi (children’s dance), a procession, and shishimai, and features the assembly of a kasahoko, 15 Yatsuhachi pieces performed by the children, and the lion entering while dancing.
Long known as the “Katata Buddhist memorial service,” it reflects the influence of the syncretism of Buddhism and Shinto.
Sources and references
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/11/11
