Villages host all-night sacred dance offerings in kagura lodgings. These rites are different from the regular tourist kagura performance at Takachiho Shrine.
Photo: David Stanley from Nanaimo, Canada · CC BY 2.0
Original date label: 2016-10-13 21:03. Original or supplied resized image; no additional editing.
Takachiho Yokagura dates
Usually November–February; village dates and venues vary
Usual annual season · exact next dates not confirmed
Event dates and times use Japan Standard Time (JST). Usual annual dates are not a confirmed booking schedule for the next edition. Check the organizer’s notices for daily times, admission and weather-related changes.
Where to watch
Takachiho · 高千穂
Village kagura lodgings; Takachiho Shrine is an information reference point
各集落の神楽宿・案内基点は高千穂神社
The map marks one reference point, not the entire route or every entrance. For village rites or moving processions, use the organizer’s venue map.
View reference location on Google Maps ↗Getting there by train or bus
Use a bus from Kumamoto or Nobeoka toward Takachiho. Match the village’s announced address to your onward transport and arrange a return after the late-night rite.
History and traditions
The rites are traditionally traced to the late Heian and Kamakura periods, preserving village customs of welcoming deities and offering dances through the night.
Nearby places to consider
These sights can help you plan the rest of your visit. Check each location’s opening hours and access separately; festival road closures may affect the journey.
Before you visit Takachiho Yokagura
When is Takachiho Yokagura?
Usually November–February; village dates and venues vary. These are the usual seasonal dates, not a confirmed schedule for the next edition. Check the linked organizer for times and changes.
How do I get to Takachiho Yokagura by public transportation?
Use a bus from Kumamoto or Nobeoka toward Takachiho. Match the village’s announced address to your onward transport and arrange a return after the late-night rite.
What should I plan before visiting Takachiho Yokagura?
For a shorter introduction, consider the tourist performance rather than an all-night rite. The shrine reference point on a map is not the actual location of every village ceremony.
These planning suggestions are JapanLiveNow’s editorial advice. Admission and operating arrangements follow the organizer’s current program.
Official program and visitor information
- takachiho-kanko.info — official festival or destination information ↗
- www.kanko-miyazaki.jp — official festival or destination information ↗
- www.kanko-miyazaki.jp — official festival or destination information ↗
This guide uses the shared festival source register reviewed on October 3, 2026. Official notices take priority over archive photos and previous editions.