Komagatake Shrine’s Daidai Kagura

Festival highlights

The highlight is the variety of dances in the Daidai Kagura, which consists of 13 dances.

In Sankembū, dancers wielding unsheathed swords perform vigorous movements, while in Shishin Gohai, 4 tengu appear on stage.

Shishin Gohai is said to be a dance that prays for purity in heaven, safety on earth, and harmony among people, allowing you to appreciate both the power of the kagura and the meaning of its prayers.

Source: 駒ケ岳神社例祭・太々神楽 | 木曽谷とりっぷ

A mountain kagura in Agematsu, featuring dances passed down from father to eldest son

What to expect

At the festival, the 13 dances of the Daidai Kagura are offered in sequence on the stage at the satomiya (lower shrine) of Komagatake Shrine.

The program includes Iwato Hiraki-mai, Hōnen Miko-mai, Shishin Gohai, and Sankembū. The dances are performed facing a himorogi, a sacred object made from a sakaki branch hung with a mirror and sword.

It is said that in the past, people would bring a packed lunch to watch the kagura or enjoy food and drink in the mountains.

Source: 国指定文化財等データベース

How to take part

Kagura is a performing art offered to the deities and passed down from one generation to the next in families throughout the district.

It is performed by a limited number of successors, so general visitors cannot join as dancers.

However, visitors are welcome to watch the kagura dances and visit the festival site.

Location and access

Venue and address

Komagatake Shrine Satomiya.

Located in Ogawa, Agematsu Town.

Train and bus

A community bus connecting JR Agematsu Station and the area near Komagatake Shrine ran on a special schedule on May 3, 2026.

The timetable is available via the official Agematsu Town website.

Source: ５月３日、駒ヶ岳神社例祭の臨時バス運行について - 上松町観光サイト

Address Ogawa, Agematsu, Nagano

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Dates and season

2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)

The event is held annually on May 3.

In 2026, Daidai Kagura was announced as part of the Komagatake Shrine Reisai on May 3.

Daidai Kagura consists of thirteen acts.

Accommodation and hotels PR

Tips for your visit

Kagura is a traditional performing art offered on a shrine stage, so it’s best to watch quietly and respectfully.

In 2026, a special bus connecting JR Agematsu Station and the area near Komagatake Shrine was announced.

Please check the conditions for arriving by car and using the parking lot, as well as the detailed operating schedule for the day, before setting out.

Nearby attractions

Sightseeing destinations in Agematsu include Akasawa Natural Recreational Forest, Nezame no Toko, Ono Waterfall, and Kiso no Kakehashi, along with the satomiya (lower shrine) of Komagatake Shrine.

The trailhead for Mount Kisokoma is also listed in the town’s sightseeing information.

You could plan an itinerary that combines watching the kagura with visits to Agematsu’s natural scenery and well-known places along the Kiso Road.

Source: アクセス - 上松町観光サイト

Origins and History of Komagatake Shrine’s Daidai Kagura

The origins of the Daidai Kagura are associated with the founding of Komagatake Shrine. It has been performed for people ascending and descending the mountain and as offerings by worshippers praying for their wishes.

It is passed down from father to eldest son among the parishioners of Higashi-Ogawa, with the eldest sons of designated farming families inheriting the tradition.

In 1978, it was selected as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property for which measures such as documentation should be undertaken by the national government, and is recognized as a kagura with distinctive regional characteristics.

Official information

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

Information on the date, venue, and temporary bus service is also available on the Agematsu sightseeing website and the Kiso Regional official tourism website.

For more details about the kagura dances and their origins, consult these guides together for a fuller understanding.

Komagatake Shrine’s Daidai Kagura at a Glance

Komagatake Shrine’s Daidai Kagura is a mountain kagura featuring 13 dances, offered every year on May 3 at the satomiya (lower shrine) of Komagatake Shrine in Agematsu.

Along with powerful dances such as Sankembū and Shishin Gohai, it carries prayers for bountiful harvests and the safety of the community.

This traditional performing art, rich in local character, has been passed down from father to eldest son.