Ogashinzan Folklore Museum
Ogashinzan Denshokan“Namahage” is a folk ritual performed throughout the Oga Peninsula and surrounding areas. Each New Year’s Eve fierce demons known as Namahage visit each house to frighten misbehaved children. Despite their scary appearance, the Namahage are gods bringing the local people warnings against laziness as well as blessings for the wellbeing of their families and rich harvests from the mountains and the sea for the coming year.
The Ogashinzan Folklore Museum gives visitors the chance to learn about and experience the Namahage folklore tradition. The museum is in a traditional thatched-roof farmhouse known as Magariya (“bent house”) connected in an L-shape with a horse stable. Visitors seat themselves in the tatami-floored room beside a traditional “Irori” fireplace while listening to an explanation of the Namahage and viewing a live performance.
The fierce Namahage, stomping around the room and crying out for badly behaved children, are vigorous and frightening. Be sure to collect some of the fallen straw from the Namahage’s costumes which is said to be a charm against evil spirits. Please don’t pull at the costumes too forcefully though!
The nearby Namahage Museum offers a variety of displays on the Namahage and offers visitors the chance to dress-up in a Namahage costume. Enjoy discovering the folk culture of Namahage, officially recognised as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage!
- Area
- Akita
- Shirakami, Oga
- Category
- History and Culture
General Information
- Address
- 秋田県男鹿市北浦真山字水喰沢97
- Prices
- Joint tickets of admission to Namahage Museum and Shinzan Folklore Museum
From April to November
Adults: 800 yen
Students: 500 yen
From December to March
Adults:1,000 yen
Students: 700 yen - Opening Times
- Entry Times
From April to December
9:00, 9:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30, 16:00, 16:30
Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from December to March (including December 31)
9:30, 10:30, 11:30, 13:30, 14:30, 15:30
January 1 and 2
9:00, 9:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30 - Directions
- 40 minutes by car from Showa-Ogahanto IC on Akita Expressway
15 minutes by taxi from Hadachi Station on JR Oga Line - Car Park
- Parking: Available
- Official Website
- https://namahage.co.jp/namahagekan/en/
- Word-of-mouth
- Reviews (TripAdvisor)
Contact
- Contact
- Ogashinzan Folklore Museum
- Telephone Number
- 0185-33-3033