There are two main ways to see kagura in Tono: attend a festival or public performance, or visit a local group during its practice session.
To observe a practice, you can apply through the Tono Folk Performing Arts Association or arrange a visit with the help of our accommodation. The same options apply to shishi odori, the traditional deer dance often performed alongside kagura, so this guide covers both.
Festivals and public performances take place on only a few days each year. By contrast, practice sessions may offer a chance to experience kagura even when no festival is taking place, depending on each group’s schedule.
This article brings together information about public events held in 2026, how to arrange a practice visit, what to wear at night, and how to travel from the Tokyo metropolitan area. It is based on information available from Tono City, the Tono Folk Performing Arts Association, the Tono Tourism Association, the Japan Meteorological Agency, and our own accommodation blog.
The latter part of the article also describes how Lien Tono—a traditional farmhouse available for exclusive use by one group per day in Tono, Iwate Prefecture—has introduced overnight guests to local practice sessions.
What Is Tono’s Kagura, and How Many Folk Performing Arts Groups Are There?
According to a page updated by Tono City’s Cultural Affairs Division on September 24, 2026, more than 60 local folk performing arts groups are active in the city. Of these, 22 were recruiting people interested in trying or participating in their activities. These numbers may change whenever the information is updated, so check the latest figures before your trip.
The association’s website records around 120 groups that have existed over time, including groups whose activities have been suspended. The more than 60 groups still active today represent roughly half that total.
Tono City’s Cultural Affairs Division lists the following results from earlier surveys:
| Survey | Groups recorded |
|---|---|
| Emergency survey (fiscal years 1995–1996) | 86 in the former Tono City area and 25 in the former Miyamori Village area, including inactive groups |
| Follow-up tradition survey | 9 additional groups identified |
The figures differ between sources because the surveys were conducted in different years and used different counting methods. This article uses the city’s figure of “more than 60” as the current number, based on the update of September 24, 2026.
In addition to kagura and shishi odori, local performing arts include daikagura, Nanbu hayashi music, rice-planting dances, sansa dances, tiger dances, jinku dances, farmers’ dances, and yabusame horseback archery. The Tono Folk Performing Arts Association explains that kagura has the largest number of recorded traditions among these art forms.
Tono’s kagura has two main traditions: Shinto kagura (Shinto-style ritual kagura) and yamabushi kagura, associated with mountain ascetics. According to the association, Shinto kagura tends to have a slower tempo and graceful movements, while yamabushi kagura is faster and more dynamic. If this is your first time watching, the difference in tempo can help you distinguish the two styles.
According to the association, shishi odori was brought to Tono more than 400 years ago. Dancers wearing lion-like deer heads with manes known as kannagara perform in groups, alongside dancers carrying swords and other objects. Some events, such as the first day of the Tono Festival, feature both a kagura gathering and a large-scale shishi odori performance.
Three Ways to See Kagura
| Option | When | Reservation | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attend a festival or public performance | On scheduled event dates (in 2026, in May and September) | Depends on the event | Visitors who want to see a lively public performance during a short stay |
| Visit a practice through the association | On the group’s practice day | Required | Visitors who want to watch local performers rehearsing up close |
| Visit a practice with Lien Tono | On an evening when the accommodation can arrange a visit | Please check with us | Visitors staying in Tono who would like help arranging an evening experience |
Festivals and public performances take place in larger venues and attract more spectators, but the dates are limited to just a few days each year. Practice visits depend on each group’s schedule, but it may be possible to find one that fits your travel dates.
Public Events in 2026 and How to Find Dates for Next Year
The main events where visitors could see kagura in 2026 were as follows. All of these events had ended by October 8, 2026.
| Event | Dates in 2026 | Venue | Booking and admission information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tono Night Kagura, part of the Tono Spring Festival | May 2 and 3, 7:00–8:00 p.m. | Tonoza, inside Tono Monogatari no Yakata | No booking information was listed. Admission is charged; high school students and younger children enter free. |
| Annual festival at Tono-go Hachimangu Shrine | September 14, 15, and 18; night kagura was offered at the kagura hall on September 18, around 7:00–8:00 p.m. | Tono-go Hachimangu Shrine | Check with the Tono Tourism Association. |
| Furusato Tono Festival | September 19 and 20. On the first day, the city hosted a folk performing arts parade, a large shishi odori performance, and a kagura gathering. On the second day, events included yabusame at the shrine. | Around Tono Station and Tono-go Hachimangu Shrine | The information states that no application is required for the eve-of-festival event. Paid spectator seating is also available. |
Choose a date for the Tono Festival according to the performance you most want to see. In 2026, the kagura gathering and large shishi odori performance took place in the city on the first day, while yabusame was held at Tono-go Hachimangu Shrine on the second day. Night kagura was held at Tonoza in May and at the shrine’s kagura hall in September.
Dates for 2027 and later had not yet been announced as of October 8, 2026, and schedules may change from year to year. Contact the Tono Tourism Association at 0198-62-1333 to confirm dates before booking accommodation and transport.
Other Folk Performing Arts to See in Tono
September’s Tono Festival is a good opportunity to see performing arts other than kagura. You can watch groups’ performances during the main street parade on the first day and at Tono-go Hachimangu Shrine on the second day. During a regular practice visit, you will generally see only the art form being rehearsed by that particular group.
The association describes the following features as useful points to look for:
| Art form | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Tono Nanbu-style yabusame | An assistant official follows the mounted archer, repeatedly calling out “Yō itari ya” (“Well shot!”). The association describes this custom as unique to Nanbu-style yabusame in Japan. |
| Tiger dance (Kuretsubo Toramai) | A ladder is raised vertically, while the “tiger” and the sasara-suri performer face off. The highlight is the sasara-suri performer climbing the ladder. |
| Nanbu hayashi | Flutes, drums, tsuzumi hand drums, and shamisen create the music. The costumes and dances are described as colorful and graceful. |
| Daikagura | Characterized by lively rhythms played on flutes, large and small drums, and hand cymbals. |
| Farmers’ dance | Depicts the stages of rice cultivation, from planting to harvesting, as they were carried out before mechanization. |
At the 2026 Tono Festival, yabusame took place at Tono-go Hachimangu Shrine on the second day. The association classifies Nanbu hayashi and daikagura as folk performing arts of the town. If you visit during the festival hoping to see kagura and shishi odori, you may also encounter these other traditions. At a practice session, you will see the art form that the group is rehearsing that day.
Where to Arrange a Practice Visit—and What to Check First
The main contact is the Tono Folk Performing Arts Association. Its office is located inside the Tono City Library and Museum.
On the association’s experience page, you can filter groups by conditions such as “observation only welcome,” “individual visitors welcome,” “elementary and junior high school students welcome,” “families welcome,” and “all ages.” Acceptance conditions differ by group. It is not safe to assume that every practice session welcomes children or observers, so read the information for the group you are interested in and check whether its conditions suit your party before contacting it.
Some operators offer experiences combined with accommodation or meals and accept applications separately from the association. The Tono Tourism Association can provide information about these programs and their schedules.
Before making an inquiry, it helps to decide on the following details. This can reduce the number of messages needed to arrange the visit.
| What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| The day of the week and time you would like to visit | Practice days and times differ by group. |
| Number of visitors and ages of anyone accompanying you | Conditions such as “observation only” or “school-age children welcome” vary. |
| Meeting place and how you will get there | Some practice venues are a distance from the station. |
| Whether photography, audio recording, or social media posts are allowed | We did not find clearly stated general rules in the information published by the association, Tono City, or the Tono Tourism Association. |
| Whether you may touch costumes or instruments | Each group decides whether hands-on experiences are permitted. |
A practice session is a time when local people gather for their own community activities. As a visitor, take the seat or place you are shown and follow the group’s instructions.
We did not find published photography or recording rules in the information we checked from the association, Tono City, and the Tono Tourism Association. We did not review every group’s individual guidance, so this does not mean that no rules exist. Please ask the group or organizer in advance.
What to Wear for an Evening Practice—and Tono’s Climate
The two groups that Lien Tono can introduce to visitors usually begin their practice at around 7:30 p.m. As evenings can be cold, monthly average low temperatures provide a useful guide.
The Japan Meteorological Agency’s climate normals for the Tono AMeDAS station, covering 1991–2020, are shown below.
| Month | Mean temperature | Mean high | Mean low | Normal maximum snow depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | −2.4°C | 1.7°C | −6.9°C | 22 cm |
| February | −1.8°C | 2.7°C | −6.6°C | 24 cm |
| March | 1.9°C | 7.1°C | −3.1°C | 16 cm |
| April | 7.8°C | 14.0°C | 1.8°C | 1 cm |
| May | 13.7°C | 20.0°C | 7.8°C | 0 cm |
| June | 17.9°C | 23.5°C | 13.3°C | 0 cm |
| July | 21.8°C | 26.8°C | 17.9°C | 0 cm |
| August | 22.7°C | 28.0°C | 18.7°C | 0 cm |
| September | 18.5°C | 23.7°C | 14.2°C | 0 cm |
| October | 11.8°C | 17.7°C | 6.8°C | 0 cm |
| November | 5.5°C | 11.0°C | 0.5°C | 2 cm |
| December | 0.2°C | 4.3°C | −3.7°C | 14 cm |
The table suggests three useful seasonal guidelines:
- Average low temperatures fall below 0°C from December through March.
- Average low temperatures are below 10°C from October through May.
- Normal maximum snow depth is recorded from November through April.
Even in October, the average low is 6.8°C, so bring a warm jacket if you will be sitting and watching at night. May is also chilly, with an average low of 7.8°C, so bring a jacket in both spring and autumn. In August, the average low is 18.7°C, a difference of 9.3°C from the average high.
The Tono Tourism Association recommends a thick coat, scarf, gloves, and other warm clothing from December through February. Monthly climate normals are averages, however, and conditions can vary. The association also notes that winter temperatures in Tono can sometimes fall to −20°C, while daytime highs from June through August can exceed 35°C. For monthly climate normals not shown here, check the Japan Meteorological Agency’s Tono AMeDAS page.
The two groups introduced by Lien Tono practise in a traditional farmhouse about one kilometre from the accommodation. Hirakura Kagura practises indoors, so visitors can watch during winter. Itazawa Shishi Odori uses the farmhouse garden for its dance. In winter, practice focuses mainly on drums and flutes indoors. Outdoor evenings can be cold, so bring extra layers. Shoes that are easy to take off and put on—and thick socks in winter—are also useful.
Getting to Tono from the Tokyo Area—and Including Tono in a Tohoku Trip
The travel times below are from Tono City’s access information, updated October 16, 2025.
| Starting point | Route and estimated travel time | Approximate total |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | Tohoku Shinkansen to Shin-Hanamaki Station, about 3 hours 20 minutes; then the Kamaishi Line to Tono, about 1 hour | About 4 hours 20 minutes, plus transfer waiting time |
| Sendai | Tohoku Shinkansen to Shin-Hanamaki Station, about 1 hour 10 minutes; then the Kamaishi Line to Tono, about 1 hour | About 2 hours 10 minutes, plus transfer waiting time |
| Urawa Interchange | About 6 hours on the Tohoku Expressway to Kitakami-Ezuriko Interchange, then about 1 hour via National Routes 107 and 283 | About 7 hours |
| Hiraizumi | About 1 hour 30 minutes by car via National Routes 283, 107, and 4, along with prefectural roads | About 1 hour 30 minutes |
If you are travelling around Tohoku, Hiraizumi is about a 1.5-hour drive from Tono. Many guests stay one night in Tono after visiting Chusonji Temple and before continuing to Kakunodate in Akita. We could not confirm an official travel-time estimate from Kakunodate to Tono, so please check your preferred route-planning service.
You can plan to arrive in the late afternoon, visit a practice session in the evening, and continue to your next destination the following morning.
For a visit with a meeting time of around 7:30 p.m., work backwards from the estimated travel time. From Tokyo, the train journey alone takes about 4 hours 20 minutes. Once you add transfer waiting time and travel from the station to the accommodation, leaving Tokyo around midday should allow you to reach the accommodation in the late afternoon. Check the Kamaishi Line timetable in advance. Contact Lien Tono about transport from Tono Station to the accommodation.
A Sample One-Night, Two-Day Itinerary Including an Evening Practice
The example below uses estimated travel times and assumes a 30-minute transfer wait and 30 minutes to travel from the station to the accommodation. It is not a train timetable, so check actual services before travelling.
| Starting point | Suggested departure | Estimated arrival at accommodation | Evening | Following day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo Station | Around noon | Around 5:30 p.m. (Shin-Hanamaki around 3:20 p.m.; Kamaishi Line departure around 4:50 p.m.) | Meet around 7:30 p.m. and visit a practice session | Continue to your next destination in the morning |
| Sendai Station | Around 1:00 p.m. | Around 4:00 p.m. (Shin-Hanamaki around 2:10 p.m.; Kamaishi Line departure around 3:40 p.m.) | Meet around 7:30 p.m. and visit a practice session | Continue to your next destination in the morning |
| Hiraizumi, by car | Around 3:00 p.m. | Around 4:30–5:00 p.m. (about 1.5 hours by car) | Meet around 7:30 p.m. and visit a practice session | Continue to your next destination in the morning |
If you travel from Tokyo, leaving around midday should leave time to settle in before dinner. If you drive from Hiraizumi, you can visit Chusonji Temple in the afternoon before setting off. In each example, you have more than two hours between arriving at the accommodation and the meeting time—enough to put down your bags and have dinner.
If travelling by Shinkansen, check the number and times of Kamaishi Line services from Shin-Hanamaki in advance.
How Lien Tono Has Introduced Guests to Local Practice Sessions
Lien Tono is a traditional farmhouse for exclusive use by one group per day in Hirakura, Kamigo, Tono City. Our blog has shared experiences of guests who visited practice sessions held by local groups. Here are three examples, along with the shrine behind our accommodation.
Saturday Evenings: Hirakura Kagura
As described in our blog post dated March 2, 2026, Hirakura Kagura generally practises on Saturday evenings throughout the year, although sessions may be cancelled depending on the group’s schedule.
The venue is a traditional farmhouse about one kilometre from Lien Tono, and the host accompanies guests there. Practice usually begins around 7:30 p.m. in a relaxed atmosphere, with participants sharing sake.
On one occasion, a guest who studies kagura in the Kansai region had the chance to try the footwork for Torimai (“Bird Dance”) during the practice. Our blog noted how moved and delighted the guest was to take part.
Wednesday Evenings: Itazawa Shishi Odori
As described in our blog post dated May 23, 2026, Itazawa Shishi Odori generally practises on Wednesday evenings throughout the year, though sessions may be cancelled depending on the group’s schedule.
With the group’s kind permission, overnight guests have worn the costume and joined the dance. In our blog, we described the experience as “becoming a shishi”—becoming one of the deer dancers.
Two Visitors from Overseas
In our blog post dated September 4, 2025, we wrote about two visitors—one Italian and one Swedish—who came from Denmark and watched an Itazawa Shishi Odori practice. By the end of the visit, they had put on the costume and worn the shishi head, and they were delighted by the experience.
Our English information page describes how the visit works. Guests meet at around 7:30 p.m., then travel by car with the host to the venue about one kilometre away. In the traditional farmhouse, local performers practise while sharing drinks, and visitors can join in the conversation as well as observe.
Lien Tono presents this as an opportunity to experience a regular part of local life, rather than simply watch a staged performance. People who are not staying at the accommodation may also participate.
Whether a practice takes place depends on the group’s schedule. As our blog says, visits are possible when the group’s arrangements allow. If you are planning your trip specifically to see a practice, please call Lien Tono to confirm before booking your accommodation.
The host accompanies visitors and provides transport in their own car. The car can take up to four people at a time, but larger groups may also be accommodated through arrangements. The fee listed as of October 8, 2026, is ¥4,000 for one person, or ¥8,000 per group for two or more people.
What Happens on the Evening?
Based on the information on our accommodation’s website, the visit usually follows this sequence:
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| Around 7:30 p.m. | Meet the host |
| After meeting | Travel in the host’s car to the venue about one kilometre away (up to four people per car at a time; larger groups may be arranged) |
| At the venue | Watch a local group practising in a traditional farmhouse. The performers share drinks and visitors may join the conversation. |
The finishing time and the performances practised that evening depend on the group’s schedule and are not specified on our information page. Please ask us in advance if you would like to know more.
Tsunagi Inari Shrine Behind the Accommodation
Tsunagi Inari Shrine is located behind Lien Tono. As described in our blog post dated August 25, 2024, its annual festival is held on the last Sunday of August each year, and a ritual associated with Hirakura Kagura takes place there.
The date may vary from year to year. If you plan to visit Tono in summer, please check with us before building the festival into your itinerary. We plan to introduce the shrine in more detail in a future article.
When This Experience May Not Suit Your Itinerary
Practice sessions take place in the evening, usually starting around 7:30 p.m., so they are not suitable for a day trip or for an itinerary that requires you to return to Tokyo in the early evening.
Lien Tono can introduce visitors to Itazawa Shishi Odori on Wednesdays and Hirakura Kagura on Saturdays. Both groups may occasionally cancel practice. If you can only visit on another day of the week, use the association’s website to look for groups that practise on different days.
If you want a staged performance or to see many kagura pieces in one visit, a festival or public performance may be a better choice. A practice session is time set aside for local people to gather and practise for themselves. If photography is your main reason for visiting, confirm that it is permitted before setting your travel dates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which groups preserve Tono’s shishi odori?
The Tono Folk Performing Arts Association describes shishi odori as a tradition brought to Tono more than 400 years ago. The following are examples of groups whose performances we were able to confirm as designated cultural properties, based on the Iwate Prefecture Cultural Information Encyclopedia and the Cultural Heritage Online database.
| Group | Designation | Date designated |
|---|---|---|
| Hayachine Shishi Odori (Tsukimoushi area) | Iwate Prefecture designation | February 15, 1974 |
| Aosasa Shishi Odori (Aosasa area) | Iwate Prefecture designation | February 15, 1974 |
| Itazawa, Komagi, and Nagano shishi odori | Iwate Prefecture designation | April 22, 2014 |
| Ayaori, Takatoriya, Hosogoe, and Yamaya shishi odori | Tono City designation | March 23, 2018 |
This table gives examples of designations that we were able to confirm; we have not checked the designation status of every group. Itazawa Shishi Odori, which Lien Tono can introduce to visitors, is included among the groups designated by Iwate Prefecture.
Where is kagura especially well known?
Hayachine Kagura, performed by groups in Osako, Hanamaki City, has been designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan. It received this designation in 1976.
Tono’s kagura has been passed down in two traditions: Shinto kagura and yamabushi kagura. Within Tono City, Ode Hayachine Kagura, which includes “Hayachine” in its name, has been designated a cultural property by the city.
Hanamaki City is home to Shin-Hanamaki Station on the Shinkansen route, which many visitors pass through on their way to Tono.
What is the difference between kagura and shishi odori?
According to the association, Tono’s kagura includes Shinto kagura, which is graceful and relatively slow, and yamabushi kagura, which is faster and more energetic.
In shishi odori, groups of dancers wear shishi heads with manes, while other performers carry swords and similar objects. When watching, look for the tempo and movement in kagura, and the movements of the shishi heads in shishi odori.
Can I watch a practice without staying overnight?
Yes. Lien Tono’s English information page states that visitors who are not staying at the accommodation may participate. Staying overnight is not listed as a condition for practice visits arranged through the association either.
However, each group has its own acceptance conditions, so confirm in advance and explain the number and ages of the visitors.
Can I visit a practice in winter?
The Wednesday and Saturday practices generally take place throughout the year, although sessions may be cancelled depending on the group’s schedule.
Hirakura Kagura practises indoors in a traditional farmhouse, so it can be observed during winter. Itazawa Shishi Odori usually dances in the farmhouse garden, but winter practice focuses mainly on drums and flutes indoors. If you specifically want to see the dance, please call us to confirm before booking.
May I take photographs during a practice visit?
We did not find general photography rules in the information published by the association, Tono City, or the Tono Tourism Association. Individual groups or organizers may have their own policies, so ask when arranging the visit. Even if permission is granted, avoid positions that interfere with the practice and do not use a flash.
Can I bring children to a practice session?
It depends on the group. The association’s experience page lists some groups as welcoming elementary and junior high school students, families, or people of all ages, while others welcome observation only.
Tell the organizer the children’s ages and ask whether they can attend. Since practice sessions take place at night, it is also helpful to plan the return journey in advance to avoid tiring younger visitors.
Begin Your Evening of Local Folk Arts with Lien Tono
Lien Tono is a traditional farmhouse in Hirakura, Kamigo, Tono City, available for exclusive use by one group per day. To learn more about Wednesday and Saturday evening practice visits or Tsunagi Inari Shrine behind the accommodation, please visit our official website.
If you would like to visit a practice session, please contact us by phone before making your reservation.
Reservations are accepted through our booking page.
Phone: +81-80-2830-3747
Address: 1-37 Hirakura, Kamigo, Tono City, Iwate 028-0775, Japan