Bon Odori of Utogi and Hirano

Guided by drums and songs, the of Utogi and Hirano carries on men’s and women’s dances. Its varied performances, featuring lanterns and long swords, and the procession at the end that sends off the ancestors express the community’s deep-rooted Bon traditions.

About Bon Odori of Utogi and Hirano

The Bon Odori of Utogi and Hirano is a Bon dance passed down in the mountainous area of Shizuoka City, with men’s and women’s dances preserved separately.

A distinctive feature is that the dancers form a circle and sing as they dance, accompanied by drums.

Implements such as fans, kokiriko, sasara, and long swords are used, and a dance in which lanterns are held aloft is also part of the tradition.

This folk performing art preserves the meaning of Bon Odori: honoring the ancestors welcomed during Bon and sending them off together at the end.

Source: 国指定文化財等データベース / 有東木の盆踊：静岡市公式ホームページ

Festival highlights

Highlights include the different dances and implements used by men and women, as well as the way the drums are played.

The dance circle may include a “Nakadori” section, in which dancers move into the circle holding aloft decorative lanterns shaped like a five-tier castle keep.

In the closing long-sword dance, the dancers form 2 facing rows and dance to a powerful melody.

The closing “send-off,” in which a procession heads to a crossroads in the village, is another scene emblematic of this Bon Odori.

Source: 国指定文化財等データベース

A mountain-village Bon Odori where lanterns, drums, songs, and dance send off the ancestors

What to expect

The dances are divided into men’s dances and women’s dances, and proceed to signals and accompaniment from the drums.

The dancers sing as they dance, using implements specified for each performance, such as fans, kokiriko, and sasara, and usually form a circle.

In Hirano, dancers enter the performance area in a procession led by a large long sword, perform the men’s and women’s dances in turn, and finish with the long-sword dance.

In Utogi, after the performance, a procession heads to the village boundary or a crossroads in the settlement, concluding with a send-off in which the paper decorations on the implements are burned.

How to take part

The dances are a traditional performing art carried on by a local preservation group and are open to the general public.

No information is provided on whether spectators may join as dancers or whether participation is possible on the day.

This event is for watching and appreciating the dancers’ movements and tools, as well as the harmony of the and singing.

Source: しずおか文化財ナビ有東木の盆踊｜静岡県公式ホームページ

Location and access

Venue and address: Utogi is at the grounds of Shin’unji Temple (776 Utogi, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka City), and Hirano is at the grounds of Shorinji Temple.
By car: It takes about 1 hour to drive from central Shizuoka City to Utogi.
Parking: The cultural property information for Utogi states that there is no parking.

Address 776 Utogi, Aoi Ward, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture (To’unji Temple) / Shorinji Temple grounds, Hirano (street number being confirmed)

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Dates and season

Season: Aug
Frequency: Every year

Accommodation and hotels PR

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 Shizuoka Prefecture / Shizuoka City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)

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Photo and data sources

写真：by Monado / CC BY-SA 2.5

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Origins and History of Bon Odori of Utogi and Hirano

The origins of Bon Odori are unclear, but similar dances have been passed down in the upper Abe River area, and some communities have records of drum repairs from the mid-18th century. This suggests that the tradition in Utogi dates back at least that far.

Some lyrics resemble songs from the Muromachi period through the early Edo period, while the lantern dance evokes the medieval Furyu lantern dances.

It was designated a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property in 1999 and registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage element in 2022 as part of “Furyu-odori.”

Official information

The Shizuoka City official website provides information about the “Utogi Bon Odori,” including its venue, dates, and dance characteristics.

Details of its cultural-property designation and history can also be found in Shizuoka Prefecture’s “Shizuoka Cultural Properties Navi.”