Kitaochi’s rainmaking legend passed down through drums and five dances
Ohana Dance
The 2026 edition of Ohana Dance has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/08/21Ended
- Season / frequency
- Every year on August 21 / Every year
- Location
- Hiyoshi Shrine
- Area
- Shiga Prefecture・Kora Town(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 20 min–3 h · bullet train + connecting 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
- Participation fee
- Free
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
A folk performing art from Kitaochi, Kora Town, where young people with drums strapped to their chests dance alongside children and adults. Against the backdrop of prayers for water, five kinds of dances have been passed down as a continuous program.
About Ohana Dance
The Ohana Dance is a folk performing art passed down in Kitaochi, Kora Town, Shiga Prefecture.
Young people with drums on their chests and horo capes on their backs take center stage, joined by children in and adults in white underrobes.
It is said that the villagers’ prayers for water and the tragic story of a woman named Ohana became a dance to pray for rain.
Source: おはな踊り（滋賀県）の観光イベント情報｜ゆこゆこ
Festival highlights
Highlights include the vigorous dancing of young people holding drums against their chests, and the colorful formation of children and adults dancing around them.
Five kinds of dances, including Bamba and Michikusa, follow one another, offering an enjoyable succession of lively performances.
Local stories and prayers for rain are expressed through this performing art.
Source: 甲良町北落の日吉（ひよし）神社のおはな踊りの概要を知りたい。 | レファレンス協同データベース
Kitaochi’s rainmaking legend passed down through drums and five dances
What to expect
Young people dance while beating drums, with children and adults dancing around them.
Five kinds of dances—Bamba, Michikusa, Hon Odori, Aino-te, and Kayari—are performed in sequence, making up the program from beginning to end.
Costumes and accessories such as flower hats, sashes, horo capes, and sedge hats have also been passed down as part of the performance.
How to take part
Visitors can watch the event.
参加費：無料
Location and access
- Venue and address
Hiyoshi Shrine / Kitaochi, Kora Town, Inukami District, Shiga Prefecture
- Train and bus
From Kawase Station on the JR Biwako Line, take an Ohmi Railway bus to “Gakko-mae”; it is about a 5-minute walk from there.
- Parking
Parking available.
Address Kitaochi, Kora Town, Inukami District, Shiga Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
The event was held on August 21 (Friday) in 2026.
The usual event date is listed as August 21.
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 Shiga Prefecture / Kora Town (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
You can reach the area around the venue by combining bus travel and a walk from JR Kawase Station.
Get off the bus at “Gakko-mae”; the venue is about a 5-minute walk away.
Parking is available, but it is advisable to check the conditions of use and traffic levels in advance.
Origins and History of Ohana Dance
The origins of the Ohana Dance are said to be unknown.
One legend says that it became a dance to pray for rain in response to water shortages. Another story tells that Ohana was killed for breaking a promise to the Dragon Deity, but left word that if people visited the pond during a drought, she would bring rain.
Official information
Information from the Kora Town Tourism Association is posted.
A phone number, 0749-38-2035, is provided for inquiries, and the Kora Town Tourism Association’s event page is listed as related information.
Ohana Dance at a Glance
The Ohana Dance is a folk performing art linked to a rainmaking legend passed down in Kitaochi, Kora Town.
Young people with drums against their chests, children in flower hats and sashes, and adults wearing horo capes and sedge hats perform five kinds of dances in sequence.
In 2026, the event was held at Hiyoshi Shrine on August 21, and admission was announced as free.
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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