A folk event in Anan Town featuring 3-person puppetry and rain divination
Waseda Puppet Theater and the Kamiokuri Ritual
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Location
- Saijo Waseda
- Area
- Nagano Prefecture・Anan Town(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.
- Wishes behind the festival
- Last updated
- 2026/10/20
This event, passed down in Waseda, Saijo, Anan Town, features ningyo joruri performed by 3 puppeteers and the Kamiokuri ritual. Rain divination using puppets and Sanbaso at the shrine hall also take place.
About Waseda Puppet Theater and the Kamiokuri Ritual
Waseda Puppet Theater and the Kamiokuri Ritual are intangible folk cultural properties passed down in Waseda, Saijo, Anan Town, Nagano Prefecture.
The event combines ningyo joruri performances with the Kamiokuri ritual, which includes rain divination.
A distinctive feature is the technique of operating a single puppet with 3 people, and Sanbaso is also performed at the shrine hall as part of the festival’s rituals.
Festival highlights
A highlight is the distinctive puppetry technique in which 3 people operate a single puppet.
Alongside performances of ningyo joruri, rain divination using puppets is performed during the Kamiokuri ritual.
Sanbaso, performed at the shrine hall, is presented as part of the festival’s ritual.
A folk event in Anan Town featuring 3-person puppetry and rain divination
What to expect
The event preserves the art of ningyo joruri.
During Kamiokuri, puppets are used for rain divination, and Sanbaso is performed at the shrine hall as part of the festival’s rituals.
The puppets are operated using a special technique in which 3 people manipulate a single puppet.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Waseda, Saijo, Anan Town
- By car
10 minutes by car from JR Iida Line’s Tōgeta Station
Address Waseda, Saijo, Anan Town, Shimoina District, Nagano Prefecture
Tips for your visit
Cultural properties may not always be open for viewing. If you wish to view one, contact the relevant cultural property protection department in advance.
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 / Anan Town (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
安倍神像神社
長野県下伊那郡阿南町にある神社
Origins and History of Waseda Puppet Theater and the Kamiokuri Ritual
Waseda Puppet Theater and the Kamiokuri Ritual date to the Edo period.
Waseda puppetry reached its peak from the Meiji to the Taisho period, when the troupe developed its own specialty pieces.
It was designated an intangible folk cultural property in Showa 60January 23.
Official information
The “Cultural Properties of Shinshu” resource from the Hachijuni Cultural Foundation introduces Waseda Puppet Theater and the Kamiokuri Ritual as an intangible folk cultural property.
Its designation category and type are town-designated intangible folk cultural property.
Waseda Puppet Theater and the Kamiokuri Ritual at a Glance
Waseda Puppet Theater and the Kamiokuri Ritual are intangible folk cultural properties passed down in Waseda, Saijo, Anan Town.
Its main features are the ningyo joruri technique of operating a single puppet with 3 people, rain divination during Kamiokuri, and Sanbaso at the shrine hall.
It dates to the Edo period and reached its peak from the Meiji to the Taisho period.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/20
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