Katashina Monkey Festival

Festival highlights

One highlight is the scene in front of the worship hall where the East and West Hituban throw sekihan at each other using rice paddles.

After that, they divide into East and West and perform songs while exchanging greetings.

In the final “Senchūraku,” a performer dressed as a monkey in white robes runs around the shrine buildings holding a gohei wand, while the festival duty group chases the monkey.

Sekihan flies as a monkey performer is chased in this old festival preserved in Katashina Village

What to expect

For the festival, Sakaban and Hituban representatives selected from each settlement’s group prepare sweet amazake and sekihan, then offer them at a stone shrine.

Sekihan is also distributed to worshippers, after which the East and West Hituban throw it at each other.

After the songs, a performer dressed as a monkey in white robes runs out from the shrine buildings, and the East and West duty groups chase after them.

Location and access

Venue and address

Hotaka Shrine (Hanasaki, Katashina Village, Tone District, Gunma Prefecture, 〒378-0408)

Train and bus

Get off at Numata Station on the JR Joetsu Line, then take a bus bound for Kamata for about 60 minutes. Get off at the last stop and take a taxi for about 15 minutes.

By car

From the Numata IC on the Kan-Etsu Expressway, take National Route 120 toward Nikko for about 23 km. At the Hirakawa traffic light, head toward Kawaba for about 5 km.

Source: 祭・イベント詳細： 猿追い祭り｜（一財）都市農山漁村交流活性化機構（まちむら交流きこう）

Address 〒378-0408 Hanasaki, Katashina Village, Tone District, Gunma Prefecture

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Dates and season

The festival is held each year on the Day of the Monkey during lunar calendar: September.

Because the date is based on the lunar calendar, it varies from year to year in the Gregorian calendar.

Accommodation and hotels PR

Tips for your visit

The event includes a scene in which sekihan is thrown at each other, followed by the monkey performer and those on duty running around the shrine buildings.

Those chasing the monkey are not supposed to overtake the monkey performer.

When watching, take care not to obstruct the event, and keep an eye on the route and the movements of those on duty.

Origins and History of Katashina Monkey Festival

The Katashina Monkey Festival is one of the monkey festivals passed down in Katashina Village, and is held on the Day of the Monkey in lunar calendar: September.

In Hanasaki, traditional ritual organizations remain in place, including a duty roster involving the East and West settlements and the division of seating in the split worship hall.

In 1978, it was selected as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property requiring measures such as documentation, and in 2000 it was designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property under the name “Katashina Saruoi Festival.”

Official information

Basic information about the cultural property can be found in the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ “Database of Nationally Designated Cultural Properties.”

Details about the venue and transportation are available on the festival and event information page of the Organization for Urban-Rural Interaction and Revitalization.

Katashina Monkey Festival at a Glance

The Katashina Monkey Festival is a traditional festival in Katashina Village, held at Hotaka Shrine and featuring the throwing of sekihan, songs, and a chase involving a monkey performer.

The East and West settlements and the festival duty groups take part, preserving an old form of ritual to this day.