A festival tracing traditional performing arts and the Song of the Pole in the port town of Murotsu
Murotsu Kogatsumi Festival (Song of the Pole)
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Location
- Kamo Shrine
- Area
- Hyogo Prefecture・Tatsuno City(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 40 min–3 h 10 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
- 2026/11/11
The Murotsu Kogatsumi Festival (Song of the Pole), passed down in Murotsu, Mitsu-cho, Tatsuno, is a Hyogo Prefecture-designated intangible folk cultural property. It tells the story of the “Song of the Pole,” whose origins are linked to a mid-Heian-period record and the life of the port town.
About Murotsu Kogatsumi Festival (Song of the Pole)
The Murotsu Kogatsumi Festival (Song of the Pole), held in Murotsu, Mitsu-cho, Tatsuno, is a distinctive festival.
It is designated as a Hyogo Prefecture intangible folk cultural property.
The festival’s “Song of the Pole” is thought to have originated from the pole used by a courtesan to row a small boat out to a passenger ship.
Festival highlights
A highlight is the “Song of the Pole,” passed down as a Hyogo Prefecture-designated intangible folk cultural property.
Its name is also linked to the performing arts of the kugutsu, itinerant entertainers mentioned in the mid-Heian-period record Kugutsuki (Record of Puppeteers).
It is also thought to have originated from the pole used when a courtesan traveled by small boat to a passenger ship, offering a clue to the connection between Murotsu’s port-town life and traditional performing arts.
A festival tracing traditional performing arts and the Song of the Pole in the port town of Murotsu
Location and access
- Venue and address
Kamo Shrine, 74 Murotsu, Mitsu-cho, Tatsuno, Hyogo Prefecture
Address 74 Murotsu, Mitsu-cho, Tatsuno, Hyogo Prefecture
Origins and History of Murotsu Kogatsumi Festival (Song of the Pole)
The “Song of the Pole” is said to be connected to the performing arts of the kugutsu described in Kugutsuki, a record translated by Ōe no Masafusa in the mid-Heian period.
It is also thought to have originated from the pole used by a courtesan to row a small boat out to a passenger ship.
The text also indicates that the Murotsu Kogatsumi Festival is a Hyogo Prefecture-designated intangible folk cultural property.
Official information
Tatsuno City website: “The Murotsu Kogatsumi Festival”
Murotsu Kogatsumi Festival (Song of the Pole) at a Glance
The Murotsu Kogatsumi Festival (Song of the Pole), held in Murotsu, Mitsu-cho, Tatsuno, is a Hyogo Prefecture-designated intangible folk cultural property.
The “Song of the Pole” preserved in the festival’s name is thought to derive from the performing arts described in Kugutsuki and from the pole used by a courtesan traveling by small boat to a passenger ship.
The festival conveys the history of traditional performing arts and the port town of Murotsu.
Sources and references
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 Hyogo Prefecture / Tatsuno City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
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Article updated: 2026/11/11
