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Celebrate the Autumn Festival with Iwami Kagura, a traditional Japanese dance and performing art native to the western region of Shimane
Hamada City
Every year, the Shinto shrines in each town within Hamada City celebrate their regional gods through an Autumn Festival. On the evenings before such festivals, locals always look forward to watching Iwami Kagura performances that light up the town with the sounds of musical accompaniments throughout the entire night.
Iwami Kagura is a traditional performing art native to the western region of Shimane Prefecture that features gorgeous costumes and heroic ritualistic dances. Although there are currently many different venues where you're able to watch kagura performances, we recommend attending a kagura offering (also known as “hono kagura”) at one of the local shrines to get the most authentic experience. The kagura performances you are able to see at these shrines are simple, yet full of emotion, and are unique experiences that make for a truly unforgettable night.
How to get there
From Haneda Airport, fly to Hagi-Iwami Airport (105 minutes), then take the bus to JR Masuda Station (15 minutes). From JR Masuda Station, take the train to JR Hamada Station (35 minutes).
From JR Hakata Station, take the Shinkansen bullet train to JR Hiroshima Station (70 minutes). From JR Hiroshima Station, take the highway bus to JR Hamada Station (2 hours).
777-35 Asai-cho, Hamada-shi, Shimane-ken
