A tradition to ward off fire in Nakaniida, Kami Town, where tigers dance on rooftops to calm the wind
Nakaniida Tiger Dance
The 2026 edition of Nakaniida Tiger Dance has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/04/29Ended
- Season / frequency
- Every year on April 29 / Every year
- Location
- Hanaraku-koji Shopping Street, Nakaniida, Kami Town
- Area
- Miyagi Prefecture・Kami Town(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 30 min–2 h · 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
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
The tiger dance passed down in Nakaniida, Kami Town, is a fire-prevention folk performing art in which performers parade through town with floats and put on a spirited dance atop roofs. It has been passed down as part of the Hatsuuma Festival, with prayers to calm the wind and protect homes from disasters while ensuring household safety.
About Nakaniida Tiger Dance
The Nakaniida Tiger Dance is a fire-prevention folk performing art passed down in the Nakaniida district of Kami Town, Miyagi Prefecture.
Performers dressed as tigers dance to drum and flute accompaniment, expressing prayers to calm the wind and prevent fires.
It is dedicated during the Hatsuuma Festival and has been passed down locally as an event in which performers parade through town with dashi floats.
Source: 東北歴史博物館 宮城の無形文化遺産 / 初午まつり 中新田火伏せの虎舞 '26.4.29(水･祝)｜観光・旅行情報サイト 宮城まるごと探訪
Festival highlights
The highlight is the spirited scene of a tiger climbing onto a high roof to dance.
The performances include “Honchōshi no Mai,” “Okazaki no Mai,” and “Nezame no Tora no Mai.” The striking sight of the tiger facing the wind atop a roof is vividly presented.
As preservation groups in three districts pass down the tradition, you can also look out for differences in the tigers’ faces and dances.
A tradition to ward off fire in Nakaniida, Kami Town, where tigers dance on rooftops to calm the wind
What to expect
Colorful dashi floats and tigers parade through town, praying for fire prevention and the safety of each household.
The tiger dance is performed by a pair of performers, dancing to drum and flute accompaniment at entrances, in gardens, on roads, and atop roofs.
In front of the festival headquarters, you can watch several tigers dance atop a roof.
How to take part
Visitors are free to watch the Hatsuuma Festival.
No information is provided about recruiting performers for the tiger dance or how general visitors can join the dance.
Visitors watch the dashi floats and tiger dances as they make their way through town, as well as the performances on high roofs.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Hanaraku-koji Shopping Street, Nakaniida, Kami Town
- Train and bus
From the west exit bus terminal at JR Sendai Station, take the Miyakoh Bus KAMI Express bound for Nakaniida for 70 minutes.
From Furukawa Station on the JR Tohoku Shinkansen, take the Miyakoh Bus bound for Shikama Town Office for about 30 minutes and get off at Nakaniida Nishimachi.
- By car
20 minutes by car from Furukawa IC or Taiwa IC on the Tohoku Expressway.
- Parking
600 spaces near Kami Town Hall.
Event venue 宮城県加美町 加美町中新田花楽小路商店街
This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
The event was scheduled for April 29 (Wednesday, national holiday) in 2026.
The event is held on the same date each year as a fire-prevention ritual during the Hatsuuma Festival.
As the event will go ahead in rain, it is scheduled to take place on the planned date regardless of the weather.
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 Miyagi Prefecture / Kami Town (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The 2026 guide says the event will go ahead in rainy weather.
Performances take place as the troupe parades through the shopping district and on the tall roof in front of the Karaku Koji Festival Headquarters, so what you can see varies by viewing location.
If you come by car, use the parking lots around Kami Town Hall listed in the guide.
Nearby attractions
やくらいガーデン
宮城県加美町の公園・庭園のスポットです。
Origins and History of Nakaniida Tiger Dance
The Nakaniida Tiger Dance is said to have originated in the Nakaniida district, where strong winds blow in spring and major fires have occurred since long ago.
It is said to have originated about 600 years ago, when the Osaki clan followed the saying “Clouds follow the dragon, and the wind follows the tiger” and dedicated the dance at the Myojin Hatsuuma Festival.
It was once held on the Hatsuuma day in February; today, prayers for a year without fires are offered on April 29.
Official information
The Miyagi Prefecture official website introduces the Nakaniida Tiger Dance as a prefecture-designated intangible folk cultural property (folk performing art).
It is also listed as both a prefecture-designated cultural property and a nationally selected cultural property in Kami Town’s cultural property list.
Event information and contact details are posted on the Miyagi Tourism Association’s event page.
Source: 文化財一覧／加美町
Nakaniida Tiger Dance at a Glance
The Nakaniida Tiger Dance is a folk performing art from the Nakaniida district of Kami Town, passed down with prayers to calm the wind and prevent fires.
One highlight is watching dashi floats and tigers travel through town and dance atop roofs to the beat of drums and flutes.
In 2026, it will be held on Hanaraku-koji Shopping Street on April 29. Viewing is free, and the event will go ahead in rain.
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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