Route：From Tokyo to Hachinohe to Kuji

Kuji City, Iwate, is surrounded by Sanriku Reconstruction National Park and Kuji Hiraniwa Prefectural Natural Park. It is thus a tranquil town blessed with seafood and vegetables. It is also famous as the town of “Northern female divers” catching seafood in the northernmost sea in Japan. The town also possesses abundant cultural resources such as the traditional craft “Kokuji pottery” and “amber”- it is in fact the region with the greatest production quantity.

In terms of local performing arts, in addition to “kagura” (traditional ritual dances) such as Natsui-Daibonten Kagura, Yamane Kagura, and Heromachi Kagura, Oitaira Koma Odori is also well preserved in the area. Let “28^th Kuji City Folk Performing Arts Festival & Latitude 40°N Nanyatoyara Federation Folk Performing Arts Festival” open your eyes- it is, of couese, the purpose of your trip indeed. Be amazed by the dance, as well as the costume and the historical stories it embraced.

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Kuji City Urban Hall

 

28^th Kuji City Folk Performing Arts Festival & Latitude 40°N Nanyatoyara Federation Folk Performing Arts Festival

 1:30 pm (venue opens at 1:00 pm)　

28th Kuji City Folk Performing Arts Festival & Latitude 40°N Nanyatoyara Federation Folk Performing Arts Festival

Date｜January 22^nd (Sunday) 2023 Performance starts at 1:30 pm (venue opens at 1:00 pm)
Venue｜Kuji City Cultural Hall (Kuji-shi Bunka Kaikan) Urban Hall, big hall

Particiating Units

[Kuji City, Iwate]

Natsui-Daibonten Kagura Preservation Committee, Yamane Kagura Preservation Committee, Heromachi Kagura Preservation Committee, and Oitaira-Koma Dance Preservation Committee

[Ninohe City, Iwate]

Tendaiji Bugaku Preservation Committee

[Hirono Town, Iwate]

Ohno Naruikazuchi Taiko Drums

[Hachinohe City, Aomori]

Shirogane-Shitogongen Kagura Preservation Committee

Kuji City Folk Performing Arts Festival is a biannual event of local performing arts with arts preservation committees in Kuji City as participating units. This time, the big event joins with “40°N Nanyatoyara Federation Folk Performing Arts Festival”, inviting as many as seven local performing arts associations from Hachinohe City, Ninohe City, and the Kuji area as performing guests. This is a precious opportunity for art lovers to encounter with various historic performing arts all at once.

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Kuji City Board of Education, Culture Division

17-1, Kawasaki-cho, Kuji-shi, Iwate,Japan 028-0051

Phone｜+81(0)194-52-2700
FAX｜+81(0)194-52-2730

 

Notes

• We present this route as an ideal way to enjoy Sanriku. Please note that we are not soliciting participants for a tour.

Accommodations and Transportations

• Please plan your accommodations early.
• We designed this trip so that you can mostly rely on public transportation. Depending on the situation, you may consider using taxis or car rentals.
• Because of Covid-19 concerns, public transportation schedules and business hours of venues and facilities, including retail shops, might vary. Please confirm with them in advance.

Covid-19 Infection Prevention Measures

• To prevent further coronavirus infections, please follow protocols and prevention measures at each event, facility and retail store.

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The trip to encounter “Kagura”, Kuji Days3 and 2Nights　Jan.20th(Fri.)-22nd(Sun.),2023
Route：From Tokyo to Hachinohe to Kuji

Day1 Jan.20th(Fri),2023

Hachinohe & Kuji- indulgence in Sanriku’s local foods

 

Itinerary		Remarks
08:40	From Tokyo Sta.to Hachinohe Sta.（11:26)	Tohoku shinkansen express Hayabusa No.9
11:45	From Hachinohe East Exit to Hasshoku Center（11:57)	Boarding spot- Hachinohe Station East Exit Bus Stop No. 4 (for Hasshoku Center, 100 yen bus)
	Lunch｜Hasshoku Center
14:00	From Hasshoku Center to Hachinohe Sta.（14:12)	Nanbu bus (for Hachinohe station, 100 yen bus)
14:25	From Hachinohe Sta. to Kuji Sta. 　（16:07）	JR Hachinohe Line (for Kuji)
16:10	From Kuji Sta. Roadside Sta. to Kuji Yamase Dofukan（16:20)	Approx. 10-min walk
	Roadside Station Kuji Yamase Dofukan
	Visit  Hotel Accommodation in Kuji City

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Day2 Jan.21st(Sat),2023

Explore Kuji deeply & thoroughly

Itinerary		Remarks
09：45	From Kuji Sta. Kuji Underground Aquarium & Science Museum Monguranpia (10:00)	Rent a car (at Kuji Station)
10：00	Visit Kuji Underground Aquarium & Science Museum Monguranpia
Highligh	Lunch｜ in Kuji City
13：00	From Kuji Sta. to Kosode Female Diver Center
13：30	Visit Kosode Female Diver Center
14：00	Kosode Female Diver Center, in Kuji City
14：30	Stroll in Kuji City
	Visit  Hotel Accommodation in Kuji City

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Day3 Jan.22nd(Sun),2023

Encounter “Kagura”,Kuji

Itinerary		Remarks
09：45	Hotel, to Kuji Amber Museum, by rental car
10：00	Visit Kuji Amber Museum
12：00	From Kuji Amber Museum to Kuji Urban Hall
13：00	28th Kuji City Folk Performing Arts Festival & Latitude 40°N Nanyatoyara Federation Folk Performing Arts Festival　 Kuji Urban Hall	1:30 pm (venue opens at 1:00 pm)
17：00 or 18：18	From Kuji Sta. to Hachinohe Sta. （18：44 or 20：03）	Return rental car (at Kuji Station) JR Hachinohe Line (for Hachinohe)
19：06 or 20：12	From Hachinohe Sta. to Tokyo Sta. （22：04 or 23：04）	Tohoku shinkansen express Hayabusa No.46/ No. 48

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Day1
Jan.20th(Fri),2023

Hachinohe & Kuji- indulgence in Sanriku’s local foods

 

Itinerary		Remarks
08:40	From Tokyo Sta.to Hachinohe Sta.（11:26)	Tohoku shinkansen express Hayabusa No.9
11:45	From Hachinohe East Exit to Hasshoku Center（11:57)	Boarding spot- Hachinohe Station East Exit Bus Stop No. 4 (for Hasshoku Center, 100 yen bus)
	Lunch｜Hasshoku Center
14:00	From Hasshoku Center to Hachinohe Sta.（14:12)	Nanbu bus (for Hachinohe station, 100 yen bus)
14:25	From Hachinohe Sta. to Kuji Sta. 　（16:07）	JR Hachinohe Line (for Kuji)
16:10	From Kuji Sta. Roadside Sta. to Kuji Yamase Dofukan（16:20)	Approx. 10-min walk
	Roadside Station Kuji Yamase Dofukan
	Visit  Hotel Accommodation in Kuji City

Tokyo Sta.

Tohoku Shinkansen ‘Hayabusa 9’
Dep.08：40
Arr.  11：26

Travel time｜ 2hrs 46min

 

　

　

Hachinohe Sta.

East Exit Bus Stop No. 8
Dedicated bus for Hasshoku Center

Dep.11:45
Arr.  11:57

Travel time｜ 12min

Hasshoku Center(Bus Stop)

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12：00 Lunch-Hasshoku Center

Hachinohe’s Foods, Entertainments, and Activities are All Here!

▲There is not only fresh seafood, but also takoyaki, coffee, fruit sandwiches, and much more.

▲Ichiba-tei

▲Any foods you purchase at the center’s Shichirin Village can be grilled for you to taste!

Hachinohe’s Giant Market Where You Can Devour Foods from Hachinohe to the Fullest!

Freshly caught seafood, dried delicacies, souvenirs, and other Hachinohe specialties can all be found here!

The seasonal produce on display is a powerful sight to behold. There are also great facilities, including the Shichirin Village where  you can taste your purchases on the spot. The nokke-don (bowl of rice topped with a variety of ingredients) is very popular, and visitors can freely add their own favorite ingredients to the bowl! There are also many events including free live performances, comedy performances, tuna fileting shows, and “Hasshoku Cooking Dojo” where you can learn professional techniques!

For access to the market, take the Hasshoku 100-yen bus (JR Hachinohe Station loop bus) and the Hasshoku 200-yen or less bus (Hachinohe central area loop bus).

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Hasshoku Center　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

22-2 Aza-Kansai, Kawaragi, Hachinohe-shi, Aomori,Japan 039-1161
Phone｜+81 (0)178-28-9311
FAX｜+81 (0)178-28-9312　

Opening Hours｜ 9:00–18:00 Market Building

　　　　　　　 9:00–18:00 Aji Yokocho (closed on Wednesdays)

　　　　　　　 9:00–21:00 Food & Beverage Building – Kuriya Stadium (closed on New Year’s Day)

https://www.849net.com/en/

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Hasshoku Center(Bus Stop)

Nanbu bus (for Hachinohe station, 100 yen bus)

Dep.14:00
Arr.14:12

Travel time｜ 12min

 

Hachinohe Sta.

JR Hachinohe Line (for Kuji)

Dep.14:25
Arr.16:07

Travel time｜ 1hrs42min

 

Kuji Sta.

Approx. 10-min walk

 

16：20 Roadside Station Kuji Yamase Dofukan

Get to know more about Kuji

 

▲Roadside Station Kuji Yamase Dofukan

▲ Get to know more about Kuji

▲Kuji Autumn Festival- luxury and gorgeous portable shrine displays

　A complex with a wide range of Kuji local souvenirs available

An integrated facility with a souvenir complex and a tourism exchange center, as well as a retro chic display corner with Showa items. The souvenir complex is called “Tsujinokan”, it has local seasonal best vegetables, seafoods, and other specialties for you to take your picks. The tourism exchange center is called “Kazenokan” with a large portable shrine display of the Kuji Autumn festival. It’s definitely impressive to watch the refined item this close! There is a RETORO plaza with architectures like revelers selling snack and variety goods.

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Roadside Station Kuji Yamase Dofukan

2-5-6, Naka-machi, Kuji-shi, Iwate,Japan 028-0056

“Kazenokan – Tourism Exchange Center” (​KUJI tourism & products Association, general incorporated association)
Phone｜+81(0)194-66-9200
“Tsujinokan” Michinoeki Kuji Co., Ltd.
Phone｜+81(0)194-52-2289　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

Opening Hours｜ April to September 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM / October to March 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Closed on January 1st.

http://dofukan.com/

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Day2

Day3

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Sanriku Geinoh Festival LINK　September,2022-March,2023

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1 2 3

Areas

• Kuji City

Artists

• Natsui Daibonten Kagura Hozonkai Preservation Society

  The Natsui Daibonten Kagura has been passed down by yamabushi (mountain hermit) since 1354 during the period of the Northern and Southern Courts, to be dedicated to Daibonten deity at the Taiho-in temple in Natsui town. It has been a tradition through the ages that they go around houses during the New Year’s holidays to ward off evil spirit, to pray for safety of family and to appease the souls of the dead. The Natsui Daibonten Kagura Preservation Society was founded in 1978, and the Kagura was designated as the Intangible Folk Cultural Property by Iwate prefecture in 1999.
  The Natsui Junior High School is contributing as a whole to the inheritance of Natsui Daibonten Kagura. Trained under the Preservation Society members, all the students become the dancers at the school festival, the Natsui City Folk Performing Arts Festival and others.

• Shirogane-Shitogongen Kagura Preservation Society

  The Shirogane-shitogongen Kagura is originated from the Shirogane district in Hachinohe, a port town. The dance comes with a lion head props called “Gongen-sama”. It is one of the Yamabushi-style kagura with theatrical performances aiming to drive away the evil powers, celebrate big catches, great harvests, and worship gods. The precious, historic lion head was passed down to Hachinohe city in 1758 and now, the dance includes as many as 20 difference performances. During the Spring Prayer (generally held for a number of days since the New Year’s Day every year, residents in the Shirogane district usually put out decorations at their entryway and on July 6th and 7th, more than 10 performances are dedicated as the annual festival at Mishima Shrine, the guardian of the entire district.

• Oitaira-Komaodori Preservation Society

  　The Oitaira Komaodori has been passed down in the Oitaira district of the Natsui Town; it’s commonly believed that its origin traces back to early Meiji period as a dedication to the Komagata Shrine.
  The dance is a folk performing art being passed down in the former Nanbu region, and it’s said that the dance resembles a young horse released in spring returning in autumn.
  The dance thrived before WWII but it was discontinued for a short while in the postwar period as male dances were all summoned to the frontliners for the soldiers. Later in 1960, the senior residents proactively stroke to restore the tradition that the preservation committee was finally formed with the late Genetsu Oitaira as its chairman.

• Yamane Kagura Preservation Society

  Yamane Kagura is a ritual dance greatly influenced by the “way of trial and practice” of the Yamabushi mountain monks. As some old kagura props found in 1664 revealed, the dance might have been passed down from the former Morioka Domain so it was originally called “Noda Kagura” before it was known as “Yamane Kagura”.

• Tendaiji Bugaku Preservation Society

  Tendaiji Temple at Mt. Hachiyosan is home to ten bugaku performing dance masks from the Kamakura to the Muromachi period (designated as tangible cultural properties by Iwate Prefecture) while the dance itself was, unfortunately, lost.
  Later, a string of surveys conducted for the preservation of Hachiyosan Tendaiji performing arts started in 1994 proved the dance is actually the one of the Imperial Household Agency (designated as national important intangible cultural property). Participating members of the studies then joined with the Hachibasan Tendaiji Preservation Committee to form the new Tendaiji Bugaku Preservation Committee in 2020.

• Heromachi Kagura Preservation Committee

  　Heromachi Kagura is one of the streams of Kunohe Village Esashiya Kagura. Around 1935, late Mr. Shinmatsu Kubo, a Kagura dancer from the Esashi family, started gathering young residences from the former Yamagata Village (currently Yamagata-cho, Kuji City) to revitalize the ritual dance, which was followed by the assistance from late Mr. Yasuhikozou Ochi around 1965. Due to migration, there were not sufficient number of male dancers so female dancers such as the late Shinobu Shimodate, Tsuyo Shimodate, and Kiku Shimodate joined took over and passed down the dance.
  Pupils from the Toro-machi Elementary School have been contributing to perform the dance as children’s kagura since 1993. Even after the closure of the school in 2012, the Heromachi Kagura Preservation Committee has been tremendous effort to preserve the traditional dance. Now, there are 16 committee members proactively promote the dance.

• Ono Naru Ikazuchi Taiko

  Ono Naru Ikazuchi Taiko was formed in 2000 by a group of young men and women who took a taiko drumming course. Today, the group has 28 members ranging in age from 5 to 46 years old.
  The name, “Ono Naru Ikazuchi Daiko”, comes from Naru Ikazuchi Shrine, the town deity of Ono, in Hirono Town (formerly Ono Village). It is hoped that the taiko drumming will develop to become something that represents the former Ono Village, and be loved by the villagers as a prayer for a good harvest and family safety.
  Trained in musical composition and performance by Warabi-za, a renowned troupe based in Akita Prefecture, the group is named after the image of lightning, and their drum music is valiant and charged with youthful passion and freshness.