Nihonmatsu’s three-lion dance, alive with the styles and music of three hamlets
Kohama Nagori Three-Lion Dance
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Every year
- Location
- Suwa Shrine in Shimonagori
- Area
- Fukushima Prefecture・Nihonmatsu City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 20 min–1 h 40 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.
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
The Kohama Nagori Three-, passed down in the Nagori district of Nihonmatsu City. The dances, flutes, and drums of the three hamlets bring Suwa Shrine’s dedication ceremony to life.
About Kohama Nagori Three-Lion Dance
The Kohama Nagori Three-Lion Dance is a folk performing art passed down in the Nagori district of Kohama, Nihonmatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture.
The dance has been passed down in the three hamlets of Takihora, Higashikata, and Nakahora, and is designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of the prefecture.
The dance has been passed down locally as an offering to Suwa Shrine. Takihora and the hamlets of Higashikata and Nakahora take turns offering it every other year.
As a rite praying for a bountiful harvest, it keeps local bonds and traditions alive today.
Source: 小浜長折の三匹獅子舞 | 二本松市公式ウェブサイト / 国指定文化財等データベース
Festival highlights
A highlight is that each of the 3 shishi has its own style and repertoire of pieces.
Takihora’s style is called “Yama-gakari,” Higashikata’s “Hana-sui-gakari,” and Nakahora’s “Niwamushi-gakari”; the dance also varies slightly from hamlet to hamlet.
In addition to the flutes and large drums, the sound of the kakko drums worn on the shishi’s chests adds to the dance.
A distinctive local tradition is for boys who are the eldest sons to perform.
Nihonmatsu’s three-lion dance, alive with the styles and music of three hamlets
What to expect
During the event, the three-lion dances passed down in each Nagori hamlet are offered in the grounds of Suwa Shrine.
The traditions include Takihora’s Ara-shishi, Higashikata’s Hana-sui-gakari shishi, and Nakahora’s Niwamushi-gakari shishi. Takihora and the hamlets of Higashikata and Nakahora take turns offering the dance every other year.
The performance follows flute and large taiko drum music, as the shishi dance to the sound of the kakko drums on their chests.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Suwa Shrine in Shimonagori (Ōhashira, Shimonagori, Nihonmatsu City).
Address Ōhashira, Shimonagori, Nihonmatsu City
Dates and season
- Frequency
Every year
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 Fukushima Prefecture / Nihonmatsu City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
Nihonmatsu Shrine
福島県二本松市本町にある神社
東北サファリパーク
福島県二本松市の動物園
Origins and History of Kohama Nagori Three-Lion Dance
The Kohama Nagori Three-Lion Dance is associated with the tradition that Suwa Shrine in Shimonagori was founded in Daidō 2, 807.
According to oral tradition dating back to the mid-Edo period, the dance was passed down by Watanabe Heizaemon and others from Nagori.
The dance was once performed at the autumn festival, but is said to have shifted to the spring festival.
An anecdote about flutes and drums connected to the Boshin War is also introduced as a story that conveys the local history of the dance.
Official information
The cultural properties page on Nihonmatsu City’s official website provides the designation category, location, dedication date, and an overview of the tradition.
The phone number for the Cultural Promotion Section of the Nihonmatsu City Cultural Affairs Division is also listed as a contact.
The National Database of Cultural Properties introduces its record as a folk performing art, its transmission in three hamlets, and its musical accompaniment.
Kohama Nagori Three-Lion Dance at a Glance
The Kohama Nagori Three-Lion Dance is a three-lion dance passed down at Suwa Shrine in Shimonagori, Nihonmatsu City.
The three hamlets of Takihora, Higashikata, and Nakahora each preserve their own style, offering the dance to flute and drum music, along with the sound of the shishi’s chest-mounted kakko drum.
Traditions dating back to the mid-Edo period and prayers for a bountiful harvest are at the heart of local culture.
Different notices list the dates as April 27 and May 4, so please check in advance.
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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