Aso’s kagura, alive with 33 dances and high-pole acrobatics
Nakae Iwato Kagura
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Every year from April through November / Regular performances once a month, every year
- Location
- Nakae -den
- Area
- Kumamoto Prefecture・Aso City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 50 min–2 h 10 min · flight time only)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
- Wishes behind the festival
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
Nakae Iwato Kagura, passed down in the Namino area of Aso City, is a traditional performing art comprising 33 dances based on Japanese mythology. A variety of acts have been passed down, including unmasked dances, masked mythological dramas, and Tsuna no Take, which uses a tall bamboo pole.
About Nakae Iwato Kagura
Nakae Iwato Kagura is a form of kagura passed down in Nakae, in the Namino area of Aso City, Kumamoto Prefecture.
Its 33 traditional acts include Amano Iwato, a story from Japanese mythology.
It has been selected as a Nationally Designated Intangible Folk Cultural Property and is a form of Izumo-style kagura passed down in the community, with distinctive local characteristics.
Source: 中江の岩戸神楽 | くまもと伝承芸能情報サイト
Festival highlights
Highlights include a wide range of dance styles, from unmasked performances with branches of the tree, bells, or bows in hand to masked acts that portray myths in a theatrical style.
Among the acts, Tsuna no Take is especially distinctive: performers climb a tall bamboo pole and perform an acrobatic-style dance.
The 33 dances include Iwato Biraki and Gokoku-mai, offering a variety of expressions in myth and traditional performing arts.
Source: 国指定文化財等データベース
Aso’s kagura, alive with 33 dances and high-pole acrobatics
What to expect
The regular program features Nakae Iwato Kagura dances and children’s kagura.
In 2026, regular performances are generally scheduled for the first Sunday of each month from April through November, with dates excluding October listed.
Performances run from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. You can enjoy dances based on myths, as well as acts featuring costumes and masks.
Source: 中江岩戸神楽の定期公演が始まりました | あそぐらし 阿蘇市移住情報ポータルサイト / 年間行事・イベント・祭り – 阿蘇市ホームページ
How to take part
Visitors can watch the event.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Nakae Kagura-den (2606-1 Nakae, Namino, Aso City, Kumamoto Prefecture)
Address 2606-1 Nakae, Namino, Aso City, Kumamoto Prefecture
Dates and season
In 2026, regular performances are generally held on the first Sunday of each month from April through November, excluding October.
Performances run from 13:00 to 16:00.
A performance on May 3, 2026 was also listed as the next scheduled performance.
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 Kumamoto Prefecture / Aso City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
阿蘇カドリー・ドミニオン
熊本県の観光名所のスポットです。
写真：棚橋弘季（HIROKI tanahashi） さん http://gitanez.seesaa.net/ / CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo source ·
阿蘇火山博物館
熊本県阿蘇市にある博物館
阿蘇神社
熊本県阿蘇市にある神社
Origins and History of Nakae Iwato Kagura
Nakae Iwato Kagura is said to have been introduced about 250 years ago, during the Meiwa era, and to derive from the Ontake-ryu style of kagura passed down in what is now Bungoono City, Oita Prefecture.
The 33 dances based on Japanese mythology have been passed down through generations. In Showa 36, the kagura was designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Kumamoto Prefecture, and in Showa 50 it was selected as a Nationally Designated Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
Regular performances are still held at Nakae Kagura-den, and a preservation society is responsible for passing the tradition on.
Official information
Aso City’s annual events guide lists the season and venue for the Nakae Iwato Kagura regular performances.
Information about the 2026 regular performances is also available on Asogurashi, Aso City’s portal site for people considering moving there.
Nakae Iwato Kagura at a Glance
Nakae Iwato Kagura is a traditional kagura performance comprising 33 dances, passed down in the Namino area of Aso City.
Performances showcase a variety of styles, including unmasked dances, masked mythological dramas, and Tsuna no Take, in which performers climb a tall bamboo pole.
In 2026, regular performances will be held from April through November, on Sunday afternoons at Nakae Kagura-den on the first Sunday of each month, excluding October.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/19
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