Complete schedule of performances 2026-2027 (Takachiho no Yokagura)
The 高千穂の夜神楽 (Takachiho no Yokagura) brings together Shintō ritual dances passed down in the hamlets of 高千穂町 (Takachiho-chō, Miyazaki Prefecture). Each community welcomes its tutelary deity in a 神楽宿 (kagura-yado, ceremonial place) and traditionally offers 33 dances throughout the night, in gratitude for the harvests and for the prosperity of the coming year.
Here is the official schedule for the November 2026 → February 2027 season, published on October 29, 2026 by the Takachiho town hall. It includes 15 full nights, 6 daytime sessions, and 1 exclusively religious ceremony. Only communities that have agreed to make their program public are listed here. Additional dates may be added and times or locations may change.
Distances are those indicated from the Takachiho town hall and parking capacities are announced capacities, not guaranteed spaces. The full night times correspond to the published start in the municipal table; the religious ceremony and the arrival of dancers may have different times.
夜神楽 night performances 2026-2027
Takachiho no Yokagura — full night
These ceremonies take place in a 神楽宿 (kagura-yado), private house, community hall, or other space arranged to welcome the deities. The succession of 33 dances continues until morning. The locations and organizers are specific to each community; private houses are not open outside the ritual.
| No. | Date | Start time | 神楽宿 (Kagura-yado) | District | Shrine (神社) | Distance from town hall | Parking (spaces) | Responsible community hall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | November 14, 2026 (Saturday) | 5:00 PM | 五ヶ村西公民館 (Gokamura Nishi Kōminkan) | 押方 (Oshikata) | 中畑神社 (Nakahata Jinja) | 10 km | 40 | 五ヶ村西 (Gokamura Nishi) |
| 2 | November 22, 2026 (Sunday) | 4:00 PM | 下組公民館 (Shimogumi Kōminkan) | 上野 (Ueno) | 柚木野神社 (Yukino Jinja) | 5 km | 20 | 下組 (Shimogumi) |
| 3 | November 22, 2026 (Sunday) | 3:00 PM | 玄武公民館 (Genbu Kōminkan) | 上野 (Ueno) | 上野神社 (Ueno Jinja) | 8 km | 10 | 上野（南町・新町） (Ueno: Minamimachi, Shinmachi) |
| 4 | November 22, 2026 (Sunday) | 4:00 PM | 下野東公民館 (Shimono Higashi Kōminkan) | 下野 (Shimono) | 下野八幡神社 (Shimono Hachiman Jinja) | 6 km | 20 | 下野東（漆野） (Shimono Higashi, Urushino) |
| 5 | November 28, 2026 (Saturday) | 3:00 PM | 個人宅（上永の内） (Private house, Kaminaga-no-uchi) | 岩戸 (Iwato) | 御霊神社 (Goryō Jinja) | 9 km | 100 | 上永の内（河地・布城） (Kaminaga-no-uchi, Kawachi, Nunoki) |
| 6 | November 28, 2026 (Saturday) | 4:00 PM | 秋元公民館 (Akimoto Kōminkan) | 向山 (Mukōyama) | 秋元神社 (Akimoto Jinja) | 12 km | 40 | 秋元 (Akimoto) |
| 7 | December 5, 2026 (Saturday) | 2:00 PM | 下川登公民館 (Shimokawanobori Kōminkan) | 三田井 (Mitai) | 逢初天神宮 (Aizome Tenjingū) | 2 km | 10 | 下川登（長崎） (Shimokawanobori, Nagasaki) |
| 8 | December 5, 2026 (Saturday) | 2:00 PM | 跡取川公民館 (Atotorigawa Kōminkan) | 跡取川 (Atotorigawa) | 二上神社 (Futagami Jinja) | 8 km | 15 | 跡取川（奥畑） (Atotorigawa, Okuhata) |
| 9 | December 5, 2026 (Saturday) | 4:00 PM | 民宿 神楽の館 (Minshuku Kagura no Yakata) | 岩戸 (Iwato) | 歳神社 (Toshi Jinja) | 7 km | 200 | 五ヶ村 (Gokamura) |
| 10 | December 12, 2026 (Saturday) | 3:00 PM | 個人宅（片内） (Private house, Katauchi) | 押方 (Oshikata) | 嶽宮神社 (Takemiya Jinja) | 4 km | 20 | 片内（上組） (Katauchi, Kamigumi) |
| 11 | December 12, 2026 (Saturday) | 4:00 PM | 野方野公民館 (Nokatano Kōminkan) | 岩戸 (Iwato) | 石神神社 (Ishigami Jinja) | 6 km | 80 | 野方野 (Nokatano) |
| 12 | December 19, 2026 (Saturday) | 1:00 PM | 浅ケ部公民館 (Asakabe Kōminkan) | 三田井 (Mitai) | 磐下大権現神社 (Iwashita Daigongen Jinja) | 3 km | 40 | 浅ケ部（堂園） (Asakabe, Dōzono) |
| 13 | January 9, 2027 (Saturday) | 5:00 PM | 田原出張所 (Tabaru Shutchōjo) | 河内 (Kawauchi) | 熊野鳴瀧神社 (Kumano Narutaki Jinja) | 14 km | 20 | 馬場 (Baba) |
| 14 | January 23, 2027 (Saturday) | 4:30 PM | 高岩公民館 (Takaiwa Kōminkan) | 下田原 (Shimotabaru) | 広福神社 (Kōfuku Jinja) | 21 km | 50 | 高岩（南小糸） (Takaiwa, Minami Koito) |
| 15 | February 6, 2027 (Saturday) | 4:00 PM | 上田原公民館 (Uetabaru Kōminkan) | 上田原 (Uetabaru) | 熊野神社 (Kumano Jinja) | 10 km | 50 | 上田原 (Uetabaru) |
神楽公開・昼神楽
Daytime sessions 2026-2027
These sessions take place during the day and do not correspond to a full night of 33 dances. The times below are from the official document. Some tourist pages further distinguish the time of the rituals (神事, shinji) from the entrance of the dancers (舞入れ, maiire).
| No. | Date | Time | Location | District | Shrine (神社) | Distance from town hall | Parking (spaces) | Responsible community hall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | November 15, 2026 (Sunday) | 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM | 下永の内公民館 (Shimonaga-no-uchi Kōminkan) | 岩戸 (Iwato) | 天岩戸神社 (Ama-no-Iwato Jinja) | 6 km | 50 | 下永の内（上組） (Shimonaga-no-uchi, Kamigumi) |
| 2 | November 29, 2026 (Sunday) | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM | 左京大明神社 (Sakyō Daimyō Jinja) | 大野原 (Ōnohara) | 左京大明神社 (Sakyō Daimyō Jinja) | 6 km | 10 | 大野原 (Ōnohara) |
| 3 | December 12, 2026 (Saturday) | 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM | 上川登公民館 (Kamikawanobori Kōminkan) | 三田井 (Mitai) | 赤石神社 (Akaishi Jinja) | 5 km | 20 | 上川登 (Kamikawanobori) |
| 4 | December 13, 2026 (Sunday) | 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM | 中川登公民館 (Nakakawanobori Kōminkan) | 三田井 (Mitai) | 端午宮神社 (Tangū Jinja) | 3 km | 15 | 中川登 (Nakakawanobori) |
| 5 | December 20, 2026 (Sunday) | 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM | 上寺公民館 (Uedera Kōminkan) | 岩戸 (Iwato) | 天岩戸神社 (Ama-no-Iwato Jinja) | 10 km | 6 | 上寺 (Uedera) |
| 6 | January 16, 2027 (Saturday) | 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM | 山中神社 (Yamanaka Jinja) | 向山 (Mukōyama) | 山中神社 (Yamanaka Jinja) | 14 km | 30 | 尾狩 (Ogari) |
神事のみ
Ceremonies without kagura performance
This section concerns a Shintō rite without an announced dance program. It should not be confused with daytime sessions or full nights.
| No. | Date | Time | Shrine | District | Distance from town hall | Parking (spaces) | Responsible community hall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | January 10, 2027 (Sunday) | 10:00 AM | 荒立神社 (Aratate Jinja) | 三田井 (Mitai) | 1 km | 100 | 本組 (Hongumi) |
Practical information and respect for traditions
Visitor reception: ceremonies listed on the municipal list have been published with the agreement of the concerned villages. No prior reservation is required to attend. However, it is essential to respect the instructions of the residents, the sacred spaces, and the indicated locations.
Offering: the 御初穂料 (ohatsuhoryō) or 御神前 (goshinzen) is traditionally given at the reception: a voluntary contribution in an envelope, or a bottle of shōchū prepared with a ritual presentation. The town hall mentions as a guideline 3,000 to 4,000 ¥ per person or about 5,000 ¥ for two people. This is not an entrance fee nor the price of a meal.
Shared meals: some villages offer a ふるまい (furumai), a ritual hospitality meal, but this service is not systematic. Food should not be demanded in exchange for an offering.
Photos and video: some villages prohibit the use of tripods or monopods. Ask for permission before photographing and do not enter the dance space.
Cold and travel: bring warm clothes, drinks, and possibly a cushion. Ceremonies can last all night, in remote locations without night public transport. Parking capacities are limited.
Attention: the daily performance of four dances at 高千穂神社 (Takachiho Jinja) is a separate tourist formula, not included in the tables above.
Official sources: Takachiho town hall — 2026-2027 publication; PDF table of October 29, 2026; tourist association — schedule and possible changes.