Namahage is a traditional folk event, held during New Year’s Eve in Akita Prefecture, Oga peninsula.
This is depicted by men wearing demon-like ogre masks and straw capes giving punishments to those who sit idly by. Food and sake are normally offered to the Namahage to appease them.
Best time to visit: All seasons
Namahage Museum
Price: 500 Yen (~S$6.5)
Address: Aza-Mizukuisawa, Shinzan, Kitaura, Oga, Akita Prefecture
Opening Hours: 8.30AM-5PM
How to get there: Namahage Museum is about 20 minutes’ drive from JR Hadachi Station. From Tokyo, take the JR Akita Shinkansen Komachi to JR Akita Station in 4 hours. From JR Akita Station, take the JR Oga line to JR Hadachi Station about 1 hour.
Address: Aza-Mizukuisawa, Shinzan, Kitaura, Oga, Akita
Website: http://www.namahage.co.jp/namahagekan/english/
Phone: 0185-33-3033
