An ancient kagura tradition of Mukai-kata, Tenryu Village, passed down through boiling-water rites and dances
Performance arts of the Mukai-kata Okiyome Festival
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- The Shimotsuki Festival on January 22, the spring festival on April 8, the harvesting festival on September 19, and others
- Location
- Amaterasu Kōtaijinja Shrine
- Area
- Nagano Prefecture・Tenryu Village(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 20 min–1 h 50 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
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
A Shimotsuki performance centered on boiling-water purification rites, passed down in Mukai-kata, Tenryu Village. No masks are used. Dances are performed with fans, yachigo, or swords, along with various boiling-water rites.
About Performance arts of the Mukai-kata Okiyome Festival
The performance arts of the Mukai-kata Okiyome Festival are a type of Shimotsuki Kagura centered on boiling-water purification rites, passed down in the mountainous areas of Mikawa, Shinshu, and Enshu.
They preserve many features of the old-style Shimotsuki Kagura and have been designated by the national government as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property requiring measures such as documentation, as a traditional performance passed down in the region.
They are handed down in Mukai-kata, Tenryu Village, Shimoina District, Nagano Prefecture, and preserved by the Okiyome Festival Preservation Association.
Source: 国指定文化財等データベース
Festival highlights
The highlight is the unmasked boiling-water kagura, with dances performed holding fans, yachigo, or swords.
The program includes multiple boiling-water rites and dances, such as the “Purification Boiling-Water Rite,” the “Ubusuna Boiling-Water Rite,” and the “Boiling-Water Rite for Suwa Ōkami of the Second Direction.”
The Tengu Festival, the fire-protection dance, and the Numbered Boiling-Water Rite are also part of the program, preserving the structure of an old kagura tradition to this day.
Source: 向方のお潔め祭り | 芸能 | 歴史・郷土・文化 | トリップアイデア | Go NAGANO 長野県公式観光サイト
An ancient kagura tradition of Mukai-kata, Tenryu Village, passed down through boiling-water rites and dances
What to expect
The performances begin with a purification rite, followed by the Tengu Festival of the Upper and Lower Shrines, the hearth purification, uchi-, and the opening of the sacred sake.
Dances then follow, including Ichi-no-mai, Jun-no-mai, and Hana-no-yotome-no-mai, along with the Purification Boiling-Water Rite and the Ubusuna Boiling-Water Rite.
The latter part of the program features the Ancient-Tradition Dance, the fire-protection dance, and the Numbered Boiling-Water Rite, among other performances.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Amaterasu Kōtaijinja Shrine (Mukai-kata, Kambara, Tenryu Village).
Address Mukai-kata, Kambara, Tenryu Village, Shimoina District, Nagano Prefecture
Dates and season
The main dates are the Shimotsuki Festival on January 22, the Spring Festival on April 8, and the Karikake Festival on September 19.
Performances of Mukata’s Okiyome Festival are held at these festivals.
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 Nagano Prefecture / Tenryu Village (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Origins and History of Performance arts of the Mukai-kata Okiyome Festival
The performance arts of the Mukai-kata Okiyome Festival are a type of Shimotsuki Kagura centered on boiling-water purification rites, passed down in the mountainous areas of Mikawa, Shinshu, and Enshu.
They are considered valuable because they preserve many features of the old-style Shimotsuki Kagura and retain elements that allow comparison with similar kagura traditions.
On December 4, 1974, they were designated as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property requiring measures such as documentation.
Official information
Basic cultural-property information is available in the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ Database of Nationally Designated Cultural Properties.
Tenryu Village’s tourism information introduces the venue’s location and the features of its boiling-water kagura.
Performance arts of the Mukai-kata Okiyome Festival at a Glance
The performance arts of the Mukai-kata Okiyome Festival are a traditional art centered on boiling-water kagura, passed down in Mukai-kata, Tenryu Village.
The program includes dances performed with fans, yachigo, or swords, along with multiple boiling-water rites, the Tengu Festival, the fire-protection dance, and other performances.
The performances are preserved and passed down in the community as an example of the old-style Shimotsuki Kagura.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
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Article updated: 2026/10/19
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