Namahage Sedo Festival Site
culture
Namahage Sedo Festival Site
なまはげ柴灯まつり会場
Read about Cultural context
Overview
The mountainside shrine where Oga's demon-masked Namahage descend by torchlight in February, a living folk tradition older than recorded history.
Shinzan Shrine on the Oga Peninsula is the site of the annual Namahage Sedo Festival every February, where men in straw capes and terrifying ogre masks descend from the mountain by torchlight to the shrine grounds. Outside festival time, the Shinzan Folklore Museum adjacent to the shrine displays masks from all 60 Oga villages, each with a distinct regional style. The UNESCO-listed tradition of Namahage visiting homes on New Year's Eve continues privately in the villages.
Local tips
If visiting in February, the Sedo Festival runs for three nights around the second weekend. Arrive early to get a spot near the shrine steps where the Namahage descend, and dress warmly as temperatures drop well below freezing.
Practical info
- Japanese name
- なまはげ柴灯まつり会場
- Nearest station
- Oga Station (JR Oga Line, taxi)
- Payment
- Cash only
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