The sound of kagura traveling along the Sanriku coast and keeping Gongen-mai and Ebisu-mai alive
Unotori Kagura
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Alternating between the northern and southern touring routes every other year
- Area
- Iwate Prefecture・Fudai Village(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 10 min–2 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
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
Unotori , passed down in Fudai Village, is a traditional performing art featuring a wide range of kagura pieces as it travels through villages along the Sanriku coast. The repertoire includes inherited pieces such as Kiyoharai, Yama no Kami, and Ebisu-mai. As a cultural tradition reflecting the character of the region, it has been designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan.
About Unotori Kagura
Unotori Kagura is a form of kagura passed down in the coastal area of Iwate Prefecture and preserved by the Unotori Kagura Preservation Society in Fudai Village.
This traditional performing art features about 10 pieces, including Kiyoharai, Yama no Kami, and Ebisu-mai, and travels through villages along the Sanriku coast.
Reflecting changes in the performing art and regional characteristics, it has been designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan.
Source: 岩手県 - 元気なコミュニティ特選団体（普代村） / 国指定文化財等データベース
Festival highlights
A highlight is the kagura troupe’s journey through coastal villages, where it performs a variety of pieces.
Representative pieces include Kiyoharai, Yama no Kami, and Ebisu-mai. Photos of Gongen-mai and Ebisu-mai are also featured in cultural property information.
In 2026, it is also scheduled to perform “Yama no Kami” at the National Kagura Festival in Hanamaki City, offering a chance to see it alongside kagura groups from other regions.
Source: 全国神楽まつりハヤチネ2026を開催します（10月31日・11月1日）｜花巻市
The sound of kagura traveling along the Sanriku coast and keeping Gongen-mai and Ebisu-mai alive
What to expect
Unotori Kagura features pieces such as Kiyoharai, Yama no Kami, and Ebisu-mai.
A distinctive feature is that the performances do not take place on a single stage alone: the troupe travels through villages along the Sanriku coast on its northern and southern routes.
They also hold regular performances, sharing the appeal of kagura while working to preserve this traditional performing art and improve the skills of its performers.
Location and access
- Address
Fudai Village
Host municipality 岩手県普代村
This map shows the surrounding area, not the exact venue location.
Dates and season
- Frequency
Alternating between the northern and southern touring routes every other 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 Iwate Prefecture / Fudai Village (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
A nearby attraction is Unotori Shrine in Fudai Village.
A gate stands beyond the center of Fudai Village, up National Route 45 to the north. From there, it is about a 10-minute drive to the遥拝殿; continue along the approach on foot for about 15 minutes to reach the main shrine near the summit of Mount Ukoitori.
Beyond the main shrine is a stone shrine called Omisakisama, with a view of the Pacific Ocean.
Source: 鵜鳥神社 | JA新いわて
三陸復興国立公園
東北地方の三陸沿岸を区域とする国立公園
写真：Junpei Satoh / CC BY-SA 3.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·Origins and History of Unotori Kagura
The origins and year of establishment of Unotori Kagura have not been clarified in the information available.
In the coastal area of Iwate Prefecture, it is known alongside Kuromori Kagura of Miyako as “Unotori in the north, Kuromori in the south.” A tradition of alternating northern and southern touring routes every other year has been passed down.
In 2015, it was designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan for reflecting changes in the performing art and regional characteristics.
Official information
The Unotori Kagura Preservation Society is an organization working to preserve and pass on kagura in Fudai Village.
According to information from Iwate Prefecture, it promotes the appeal of Unotori Kagura through coastal tours and regular performances, while aiming to improve the skills involved in this traditional performing art and increase tourism and visitor exchange in the region.
Its cultural property designation can be confirmed in the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ Database of Nationally Designated Cultural Properties.
Unotori Kagura at a Glance
Unotori Kagura is a traditional performing art based in Fudai Village. The troupe travels along the Sanriku coast and performs pieces such as Kiyoharai, Yama no Kami, and Ebisu-mai.
As a cultural tradition reflecting regional characteristics and changes in the performing art, it has been designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan.
2026年は花巻市の神楽まつりで「山の神」を演じる案内があります。
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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