Ogashinzan Folklore Museum

Ogashinzan Denshokan

The traditional folk event "Namahage of Oga" demonstration is so powerful!

“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!

General Information

Address
秋田県男鹿市北浦真山字水喰沢97
Prices
◎Regular Fees    
Adults 1,100 yen
Elementary/Junior high school students 400 yen

◎Group Fare 
Adults 1,000 yen
Elementary/Junior high school students 350 yen
Opening Times
April to November
9:30, 10:30, 11:30, 13:30, 14:30, 15:30

December to March
(*Except weekdays)
9:30, 10:30, 11:30, 13:30, 14:30, 15:30
Directions
Kitakami JCT > (Akita Expressway: approx. 2hrs) > Showa Oga Peninsula IC > (R101: approx. 40 min) > Oga Shinzan Lore Museum

Akita Airport > (Akita Expressway: approx. 25 min) > Showa Oga Peninsula IC > (R101: approx. 40 min) > Oga Shinzan Lore Museum

Akita Port Ferry Terminal > (R101: approx. 50 min) > Oga Shinzan Folklore Museum

Tokyo Station > (Akita Shinkansen Komachi: approx. 4 hrs) > Akita Station > (JR Oga Line: 55 min) > Hattachi Station or Oga Station > (Namahage Shuttle: approx. 15 min) > Oga Shinsan Lore Museum

Akita Furusato Village (Yokote) > Yokote IC > (Akita Expressway: approx. 1 hour) > Showa Oga Peninsula IC > (R101: approx. 40 minutes) > Oga Shinzan Lore Museum

Lake Tazawa > (R46: approx. 30 min) > Kakunodate > (R46: approx. 30 min) > Kyowa IC > (Akita Expressway: approx. 30 min) > Showa Oga Peninsula IC > (R101: approx. 40 min) > Oga Shinzan Lore Museum

Towadako > (R103/R7: approx. 2.5 hrs) > Noshiro Minami IC > (Akita Expressway: approx. 25 min) > Showa Oga Peninsula IC > (R101: approx. 40 min) > Oga Shinzan Lore Museum
Car Park
Parking: Available
Official Website
Namahage-kan Official Website
Word-of-mouth
Reviews (TripAdvisor)

Contact

Contact
Ogashinzan Folklore Museum
Telephone Number
0185-33-3033

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