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HOME > Japan’s Local Treasures > Namahage Drumming Performances in Akita
Feel the beat during this one-of-a-kind drum show in Oga, performed by the namahage of local legends
Akita Tourism Federation
The Oga Peninsula in Akita Prefecture is home to a rather unusual New Year’s Eve tradition. Young men from the villages don the dramatic masks and straw cloaks of namahage, messengers of the gods, and visit households to warn against laziness, bring protection from illness and disasters, and ensure a good harvest.
The namahage drumming performances in Oga are based on the tradition, which is a folk cultural event registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Japan since 2018, combined with taiko drumming.
The event started when local young people gathered and began the show in a small gravel parking lot in 2002 to bring energy to Oga. Their passionate, energetic performances soon gained popularity through word of mouth and have become one of the representative shows in Akita Prefecture.
Head over to Oga Onsen Village to experience the lively evening performances, where the musicians embody the powerful namahage through music and their colorful and fearsome masks.
How to get there
From Tokyo Station, take the Akita Shinkansen to Akita Station (about 3 hours and 40 minutes). Switch to the JR Oga Line and ride to Oga Station (55 minutes). Then take the Namahage Shuttle Service to Gofu in Oga Onsen Village (advance reservation required).
21-2 Kusakihara, Kitaurayumoto, Oga-shi, Akita-ken
