Takachiho Yokagura Dances (held end of November through beginning of February throughout town, performances every night at Takachiho Shrine)
Yokagura dances are held throughout the town from the end of November after harvest through beginning of February. All 33 dances are performed through the night in appreciation of a good harvest. The art form is designated as one of Japan's intangible cultural assets. Local homes are selected for the stage of the dance, and the dancers (called hoshadon) are all made up of town residents. At the moment there are 24 yokagura preservation groups and up to 480 hoshadon members.
The performances by these masked dancers lead the viewers into a mystic world of myths and legends. The cut paper ornaments hung along the top of the stage add to the holy image of the dances. These ornaments are called erimono; representing the 5 principles of Ying and Yang, the Chinese characters for wood, fire, soil, gold and water are designed on to the paper. The Kagura Preservation Hall at Takachiho Shrine holds 4 dance performances every night including the famous Ama-no-Iwato for out-of-town visitors.
National Foundation Day Celebrations in Takachiho (held February 11 in the city and at Takachiho Shrine)
Residents and visitors parade through the city dressed up as gods.
"God with Facial Hair Contest" and "the Goddess Contest" are some of the festival's unique features.
Takachiho Shrine Spring Grand Festival (April 16 at Takachiho Shrine)
Sarutahiko, a human character in the myth leads a portable shrine protected by a group of martial art performers and masked gods. The parade extends to the Onokoro-ike Pond at Takachiho-kyo Gorge where a purification ceremony is held.
Kariboshi-kiriuta Song National Competition (end of November at Takachiho-cho Shizen Kyuyo-mura Kanri Center and other locations)
About 700 singers gather from all over the country to compete in the singing contest of the famous Takachiho folk song.
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