Experience Kagura Dance and Artistic Story at Takachiho Shrine
Built over 12 centuries ago in northern Miyazaki Prefecture, Takachiho Shrine is one of Japan's most sacred shrines that keeps Japanese mythology alive through dance. The dance is called Yokagura (night dances) with a series of 33 episodes reenacting the story of Amaterasu-omikami, the Shinto sun goddess. Legend has it that the goddess hid away in a cave after her brother's cruel pranks, refusing to come out until she was lured out by an outrageously raucous dance. The shrine is said to stand on the grounds where Amaterasu descended to Earth. The dance of different episodes is held at various locations on Saturday evenings from mid November to mid February when local people gather to watch the all-night performances. For tourists, there is a massively shortened version of Takachiho Yokagura performed every night throughout the year at the Kaguraden performance hall of the Takachiho Shrine, which is known as Takachiho Kagura. This show lasts an hour from 20:00 to 21:00, comprising a few scenes of the story, performed by masked dancers and accompanied by traditional instruments.
