Takachiho kagura guide: Nightly shows and traditional night kagura

Compare the nightly 20:00 Takachiho Shrine performance with autumn-winter night kagura, including official hours, prices, online booking, same-day tickets and dates without performances.

Last checked:

  • Miyazaki
  • Festivals
  • Shrines, temples and parks

There are two kinds of kagura in Takachiho () whose names sound similar but which are quite different. Takachiho Kagura is a regular nightly performance at Takachiho Shrine, while night kagura () is a traditional ritual held at kagura lodges in various communities during autumn and winter. This article summarizes official information from the Takachiho Tourism Association. For the gorge, see the Takachiho Gorge guide.

Comparison at a glance

Takachiho Kagura (regular performance) Night kagura
Location Kagura Hall in the grounds of Takachiho Shrine Local kagura lodges (), varying by location
Time Every night, 20:00 to 21:00 (1 hour) Mid-November to early February each year
Content 4 representative dances from a set of 33 All 33 dances
Schedule Nightly A separate official night-kagura calendar is available

Regular Takachiho Kagura

Item Official information
Time 20:00 to 21:00
Venue Takachiho Shrine Kagura Hall (tatami floor); chairs are not provided, but visitors may bring their own
Admission 1,000 yen per person; free for elementary-school children and younger; 900 yen per person for groups of 20 or more
Dances Four: Tajikarao, Uzume, Totori and Goshintai (romanization used on the official page)
No performances 31 December, 1 January; also 22 and 23 November due to the Night Kagura Festival

Reservations and same-day tickets

  • Online reservations: open at 10:00 30 days before the performance and close at 17:00 on the performance day; credit-card payment only; 230 online seats.
  • Online reservation holders can check in from 19:00.
  • Same-day tickets: sold at the Kagura Hall counter from 19:30; about 50 to 60 seats.
  • For date changes or cancellations, the operator directs visitors to the Takachiho Tourism Association (telephone 0982-73-1213).

Night kagura

  • The official description says night kagura takes place from mid-November to early February, with local kagura preservation groups offering all 33 dances in turn at kagura lodges.
  • The official page does not provide the night-kagura dates directly, but points to a separate calendar. This article therefore does not list dates; consult the tourism association’s calendar.

How to choose

Situation More suitable option
Want a complete 1-hour performance regardless of season Nightly Takachiho Kagura
Want to see the traditional ritual of all 33 dances Night kagura, scheduled between mid-November and early February; check the calendar first
Deciding at the last minute Same-day tickets (about 50 to 60 seats), which may sell out

Checks before departure

  1. Make sure your date is not a non-performance day (12/31, 1/1, 11/22–23).
  2. Online booking opens at 10:00 30 days beforehand and closes at 17:00 on the performance day.
  3. Bring your own chair or cushion (the Kagura Hall provides no chairs).

For Miyazaki transport, note that the direct bus from Miyazaki to Takachiho is suspended; see the Takachiho Gorge guide. For a regional overview, see the Kyushu travel guide.

Sources