Namahage Sedo Festival

Festival highlights

Toward the end of the festival, Namahage carrying torches descend from the dark, snowy mountain and parade through the shrine grounds.

The offering of rice cakes, grilled over the saitō fire, to the Namahage by a shrine priest follows, creating a fantastical scene.

The Namahage Dance and Namahage Daiko, a local performing art combining Namahage and Japanese drums, let visitors enjoy the dancing and powerful rhythms.

Oga's Namahage culture, illuminated by the saitō fire against the snowy mountain

What to expect

The program proceeds in this order: the hot-water dance and Chinkama Festival, the ensouling of the Namahage, a reenactment of the Namahage event, the Namahage Dance, and Namahage Daiko.

Afterward, Namahage carrying torches descend from the mountain, followed by the offering of rice cakes, and then Namahage from different districts in Oga City appear.

Within the venue, visitors can follow the program from place to place, including the kagura hall and the approach to the shrine.

Source: 行事内容｜なまはげ柴灯まつり

How to take part

The festival is held as a series of rituals and traditional performing arts to watch at the venue. General visitors can move around the venue and view them as the program progresses.

There is no information indicating that spectators can take part as performers in the main events, such as the Namahage Initiation or the offering of rice cakes.

To use the standing viewing area, apply for a ticket at the festival office inside the venue. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Advance registration is required for admission.

The number of visitors admitted each day is limited, and registration may close early depending on demand.

The admission fee must be paid in advance when registering for admission; cash payment at the venue on the day is not possible.

Source: 事前申込と入場料について｜なまはげ柴灯まつり

Location and access

Venue and address

Mayama Shrine (97 Mizukui-zawa, Mayama, Kitaura, Oga City, Akita Prefecture)

Train and bus

Take the Namahage shuttle service from JR Oga Station for 25 minutes, get off at Mayama Shrine, and walk a short distance.

By car

33 km via Route 101 from the Showa-Ogahantō IC on the Akita Expressway, about 40 minutes.

Parking

Parking available.

Information indicates that a free shuttle bus operates from Parking Lot 4.

Source: 真山神社 - 駅探 / なまはげ柴灯まつり 観光- たびあん

Address 97 Mizukui-zawa, Mayama, Kitaura, Oga City, Akita Prefecture

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Dates and season

It is usually held from Friday to Sunday, including the second Saturday of February.

On the day of the event, activities such as the Yu no Mai, Namahage Initiation, and Namahage Descent take place from evening into the night.

Accommodation and hotels PR

Tips for your visit

The venue is unpaved, and snow may make it difficult to get around.

Assistance is available for wheelchair users when getting on and off near the stairs, but care is needed when moving around the venue.

Umbrellas, camera tripods, monopods and selfie sticks, stepladders, and step stools are not permitted. Animals, including pets, may not be brought into the venue.

Nearby attractions

Mayama Shrine, the venue, is described as a shrine associated with Namahage.

Nearby, the Namahage Museum introduces Oga's Namahage through a large screen and mask exhibits, while the Oga Shinzan Folklore Museum offers opportunities to learn about and experience Namahage customs.

This facility offers an opportunity to experience the folk culture of the Oga region alongside Mayama Shrine and Namahage culture.

Source: 男鹿市の観光・お出かけスポット - 駅探

Museums and art museumsOga City

なまはげ館

秋田県男鹿市にある資料館

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写真：Kumpei Shiraishi / CC BY 4.0(resized and reformatted)

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Museums and art museumsOga City

男鹿市若美ふるさと資料館

秋田県の博物館・美術館のスポットです。

Visit the official page ↗ⓘ Photo and data sources

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写真：掬茶 / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)

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Temples and shrinesOga City

Mayama Shrine

秋田県男鹿市にある神社

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写真：らんで / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)

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Parks and gardensOga City

秋田県立男鹿水族館

秋田県男鹿市にある水族館

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写真：掬茶 / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)

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Attractions in the same municipality. Check each attraction’s official website for travel distances from the venue and current opening information.

Origins and History of Namahage Sedo Festival

The Namahage Sedo Festival began in Showa 39 (1964).

It was established as a tourism event combining the Sedo Festival held at Mayama Shrine with the traditional event “Oga no Namahage,” passed down in the Oga region.

The Namahage Dance originated in Showa 36 (1961), while Namahage Daiko took shape as a performing art following its conception in the 1970s and subsequent formalization by a preservation society.

Official information

The official guide provides information about the event dates and times, venue, program, and precautions for visitors.

For information about admission applications and fees, see the Namahage Sedo Festival advance application and admission fee guide.

For inquiries, contact the Namahage Sedo Festival Organizing Committee.

Visit the official website

Namahage Sedo Festival at a Glance

The Namahage Sedo Festival is a traditional cultural event in Oga, featuring purification kagura, the Namahage Dance, Namahage Daiko, and Namahage descending from the mountain, all set against the saitō fire at Mayama Shrine.

A major highlight is seeing them descend from the snowy mountain with torches held aloft and parade through the shrine grounds.

The specific date of the 2027 event is currently being confirmed, and advance registration is required for admission.