Yagibushi dancing and local memories passed down in Yamakawa
Yamakawa Yagibushi Odori
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Every year November 3
- Area
- Saitama Prefecture・Fukaya City(From Tokyo: approx. 30 min–1 h · 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
- Highlights and activities
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
A local performing art featuring Yagibushi, passed down in the Yamakawa district of Fukaya City. Learned in Gunma Prefecture in the early Meiji period, it has been passed down as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property designated by Fukaya City.
About Yamakawa Yagibushi Odori
Yamakawa Yagibushi Odori is a local performing art passed down in the Yamakawa district of the former Okabe Town, Fukaya City, Saitama Prefecture.
The community has passed down Yagibushi songs and dances, which are also designated as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property by Fukaya City.
The tradition is said to have begun when young people from the Yamakawa district traveled to Gunma Prefecture to learn the art.
An event that brings the region’s history and performing arts into the present.
Source: 山河八木節踊り - Wikipedia / 無形民俗文化財／深谷市ホームページ
Festival highlights
The highlight is the Yagibushi dance passed down in the Yamakawa district.
One distinctive feature is that a performing art learned in Gunma Prefecture has been passed down as part of the local culture of Yamakawa, Fukaya City.
More than just an event, it offers a close-up look at a traditional performing art preserved as a city-designated Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
When it is performed, you can appreciate the dance movements and music rooted in the local community.
Yagibushi dancing and local memories passed down in Yamakawa
What to expect
When it is performed, visitors can watch Yamakawa Yagibushi Odori.
A dance based on Yagibushi is performed, offering a glimpse of the art passed down in the Yamakawa district.
For specific pieces, the program, and whether visitors can participate in hands-on activities, please refer to the information for each performance.
Location and access
- Address
Fukaya City
Host municipality 埼玉県深谷市
This map shows the surrounding area, not the exact venue location.
Dates and season
The annual performance date is listed as November 3, but the 2026 performance information shows “—” for the venue and date.
Source: 無形民俗文化財の公開の期日、会場等／深谷市ホームページ
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 Saitama Prefecture / Fukaya City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
瀧宮神社
埼玉県深谷市西島にある神社
Origins and History of Yamakawa Yagibushi Odori
Yamakawa Yagibushi Odori is said to have originated when young people from the Yamakawa district traveled to Gunma Prefecture to learn the art in the early Meiji period.
It has since been passed down as a local performing art in the Yamakawa district.
Fukaya City designated Yamakawa Yagibushi Odori as a city-designated Intangible Folk Cultural Property in Showa 62April 1.
The detailed history of its development from its origins to the present is not known.
Official information
On Fukaya City’s “Intangible Folk Cultural Properties” page, you can find the location of Yamakawa Yagibushi Odori, an outline of its transmission, and its designation date.
The latest information, including the performance date and venue, is provided on Fukaya City’s “Dates and Venues for Intangible Folk Cultural Property Performances” page.
For fiscal year 2026, the venue and date for Yamakawa Yagibushi Odori are listed as undecided.
Yamakawa Yagibushi Odori at a Glance
Yamakawa Yagibushi Odori is a local performing art featuring Yagibushi, passed down in the Yamakawa district of Fukaya City.
It began when young people from the Yamakawa district learned the art in Gunma Prefecture in the early Meiji period. It is preserved as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property designated by Fukaya City.
例年の公開日は11月3日です。
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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