Lion dance and shrine-ground fireworks passed down in Amori
Saikawa Shrine Daidaikagura
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Every year on September 21 / Every year
- Location
- Saikawa Shrine
- Area
- Nagano Prefecture・Nagano City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 20 min–1 h 50 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.
- Features
- Wishes behind the festival
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
A dedication event featuring and shrine-ground fireworks, passed down at Saikawa Shrine in the Amori district of Nagano City. The festival is brought to life by lion dances such as Sanbaso and elaborate fireworks staged on the .
About Saikawa Shrine Daidaikagura
Saikawa Shrine Daidaikagura is a lion dance dedicated at Saikawa Shrine in the Amori district of Nagano City during the autumn grand festival and other occasions.
It has a history dating back to the late Muromachi period and is known as a folk performing art passed down in the community.
The lion dance carries prayers to ward off evil, ensure a good harvest, and bring peace and prosperity to the land.
Linked to the shrine’s festival, this event carries local traditions into the present day.
Source: 犀川神社太々神楽 - Wikipedia
Festival highlights
Highlights include the lion dance dedicated at Saikawa Shrine and the shrine-ground fireworks staged on its grounds.
The lion dance performances of Sanbaso, Nagahoro, and Kyokujishi have been passed down.
The fireworks include not only aerial fireworks but also elaborate displays staged throughout the shrine grounds.
Another distinctive feature is that both the lion dance and the fireworks are part of an event connected with cultural properties.
Source: 犀川神社 太々神楽の見どころ | 犀川神社 氏子総代 23・24年の日記
Lion dance and shrine-ground fireworks passed down in Amori
What to expect
At the festival, the lion dance passed down at Saikawa Shrine is dedicated, followed by or held around the same time as the dedication of fireworks.
The lion dance consists of 3 performances: Sanbaso, Nagahoro, and Kyokujishi.
The fireworks teams demonstrate techniques passed down by three schools: Kasumi Shinryu, Ohibaryu, and Shoseiryu.
Aerial and elaborate fireworks unfold on the shrine grounds, bringing the shrine festival to life.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Saikawa Shrine.
It is in the Amori district in western Nagano City.
- By car
It is about 15 minutes by car from Zenkoji Temple.
Event venue 長野県長野市 犀川神社
This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.
Dates and season
The eve-of-festival rites for the autumn are held every year on September 21.
The day is listed as featuring shishimai and Mori fireworks offerings.
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 Nagano Prefecture / Nagano City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
北野美術館
長野県長野市にある美術館
戸隠神社
長野県長野市の戸隠山周辺に五社を配する神社
長野県信濃美術館・東山魁夷館
長野県長野市にあった美術館
長野県立美術館
長野県長野市にある美術館
写真：photo: Qurren ( talk ) Taken with Canon PowerShot G9 X / CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo source ·Origins and History of Saikawa Shrine Daidaikagura
Saikawa Shrine Daidaikagura is said to have begun with a lion dance introduced by an oshi from Ise Grand Shrine who visited Kawanakajima during the Warring States period.
According to tradition, local volunteers hosted and learned from an oshi, then continued practicing and studying in the Ise region. Over 40〜50 years, they developed the tradition into its present form.
Since then, it has been passed down through generations in the Amori district of Nagano City.
It is described as having been designated an intangible cultural property of Nagano City in Showa 44.
Official information
Nagano City’s official list of city-designated cultural properties includes Saikawa Shrine Daikagura as an “intangible folk cultural property for which measures such as documentation should be undertaken.”
This can be used to check its status as a cultural property.
Source: 市指定文化財一覧 - 長野市公式ホームページ
Saikawa Shrine Daidaikagura at a Glance
Saikawa Shrine Daidaikagura is a festival featuring a lion dance passed down in the Amori district of Nagano City.
Highlights include performances of Sanbaso, Nagahoro, and Kyokujishi, as well as aerial fireworks and elaborate displays staged on the shrine grounds.
The eve-of-festival ceremony for the autumn grand festival is held every September 21, offering a chance to experience both local performing arts and the dedication of fireworks.
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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