Yachi Bugaku

Festival highlights

Highlights include a variety of dances that evoke an ancient tradition, such as Shufun, Sandai, Sashu, Amma, and Ninomai.

Centered around the Hayashi family, the performances feature children dancing Kengenraku and Bato, as well as dancers performing Taiheiraku, with dances of different roles unfolding.

At the festival of Yachi Hachiman Shrine, evening Bugaku is performed in addition to the daytime performances, and the quiet nighttime offering is also striking.

Source: 谷地どんがまつり｜イベント（河北町・村山地方）｜やまがたへの旅 - 山形県の公式観光・旅行情報サイト

Experience the ancient, elegant sounds of Bugaku passed down in Kahoku Town

What to expect

Yachi Bugaku is performed on stages set up within shrine and temple grounds.

At the 2026 annual festival of Yachi Hachiman Shrine, Hayashi Bugaku was performed, followed by evening Bugaku.

The festival as a whole also includes a mikoshi procession and return, a hōhei ceremony, and various offerings and performances. If you want to focus on Bugaku, you can visit to coincide with the performance times.

Source: 山形の文化財検索サイト「山形の宝 検索navi」

How to take part

The performers of bugaku are primarily members of the Hayashi family, joined by children and dancers who take part in the hono.

It is said that when the heir to the Hayashi family turns thirteen, they perform Fuko for the first time. The repertoire and artistic tradition are preserved as secrets passed down to a single heir and kept from outsiders.

Location and access

Venue and address

Around Yachi Hachimangu (Kahoku, Yamagata Prefecture).

The 2026 Hayashi Family bugaku performance and nighttime bugaku dances were listed as scheduled to take place at Yachi Hachimangu.

Train and bus

It is a 15-minute drive from JR Sagae Station and a 15-minute drive from JR Sakurambo-Higashine Station.

By car

It is a 40-minute drive from Ginzan Onsen and a 20-minute drive from Tendo Onsen.

Address Yachi Hachiman Shrine area, Yachi, Kahoku Town, Yamagata Prefecture

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Dates and season

2026 event information (the dates listed have passed)

In 2026, Hayashi Bugaku was performed from 2:30 p.m. on September 19 (Sat), followed by evening Bugaku from 7:50 p.m.

On September 20 (Sun), a Hayashi Bugaku performance was scheduled for 2:45 p.m. and was performed as an offering at the annual festival of Yachi Hachiman Shrine.

Yachi Bugaku is traditionally performed in mid-September at the annual festival of Yachi Hachiman Shrine, and on May 5 at the Issaikyo-e service at Jionji Temple in Sagae City.

Source: 林家舞楽 （山形県河北町） | 未来に伝える山形の宝

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Nearby attractions

Around Yachi Hachiman Shrine are Yachi Hachiman Shrine, Kahoku Town Children's Zoo, the Baryu Pine, and the grave of Shiratori Juro, among other places.

Cultural facilities listed as places to stop by include Kahoku Town General Exchange Center Sahato Benibana and the Safflower Museum and Former Horigome Residence.

Around the festival venue, you can combine visits to places where you can experience the shrine and the area's history and culture.

Origins and History of Yachi Bugaku

According to the Hayashi family’s account of its origins, Hayashi Bugaku began when their ancestor Hayashi Echizen, a musician at Tennoji Temple, came to Ushu Yamadera in Jogan 2 (860) with Ennin.

Later, the Bugaku passed down in the Hayashi family was performed at places such as Yachi and Jionji Temple, and its artistic tradition has been preserved through a single line of succession to this day.

A Bugaku illustration from Karyaku 4 (1329) depicts 32 dance poses, and some of these dances are still performed today.

Official information

Basic information on the cultural property can be found in the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ Database of National Cultural Properties and Yamagata Prefecture’s cultural property search site.

The preservation and transmission of Hayashi Bugaku are also featured in Yamagata Prefecture’s “Treasures of Yamagata to Pass on to the Future.”

The festival schedule is listed in the Yachi Donga Festival guide on Yamagata Prefecture’s official tourism site.

Yachi Bugaku at a Glance

Yachi Bugaku is a form of Bugaku with an old Tennoji lineage, passed down by the Hayashi family in Yachi, Kahoku Town.

At the annual festival of Yachi Hachiman Shrine, you can enjoy performances of several pieces and evening Bugaku, with the participation of children and dancers adding a distinctive element.

For 2026, performances were announced for September 19 and the 20th, offering an opportunity to witness traditional dances centered around Yachi Hachiman Shrine.