Akitakata City

Akitakata ( above ), located in the north of Hiroshima Prefecture, Chugoku Region, is a small mountainous city whose population is less than 30,000. However, 22 troupes perform Kagura ( Shinto ritual dance ) in their local shrines and theatres in Kagura-Monzen-Toji-Mura, a leisure complex in the city. So Akitakata is one of the best places for tourists to enjoy watching Kagura in Japan.

Kagura-Monzen-Toji-Mura ( above ) looks like a rural town which could have existed in Japan some decades ago. However it is a leisure complex which consists of Onsen hot spring baths, ryokan ( Japanese style accommodation ), restaurants, cafe, souvenir shops and two theatres where 22 Kagura troupes perform.

Kagura is performed not everyday but a few or several times a week. So before visiting Kagura-Monzen-Toji-Mura, it is recommended to check their schedule. It could be also recommended to book restaurants and accommodation if needed.

For further details ==> Kagura-Monzen-Toji-Mura ( English )

Kagura, Shinto ritual dance, is performed by people in costumes with masks. A small museum in Kamukura-za, one of the two theatres in Kagura-Monzen-Toji-Mura, exhibits costumes and masks ( above ) used in Kagura performances and some more about Kagura. Visiting the museum could help tourists enjoy watching Kagura much more.

Kagura dance is performed to music played by a small group ( above ) with Fue ( Japanese flute ), Kane ( Japanese cymbals ) and large and small Taiko ( Japanese drums ) on the side of the stage.

There are many Kagura programs, each of which tells a story related to myths, fables or history. "Jinrin", one of Kagura programs tells a story featuring Emperor Chuai and his follower Takamaro ( above ). It is said that the Emperor Chuai ruled Japan in the 4th century ( ==> A History of Japan vol.1 Formation of Japan ).

There are bad guys in some stories told by Kagura programs. Villains in "Jinrin" are ugly ogres ( above ). The ogres with an army invaded Japan ruled by Emperor Chuai.

It is said that there had lived people, called "Kumaso", in the south of Kyushu Region who had not been obedient to the emperors up until the 5th century.

In the story told by Kagura program "Jinrin", Emperor Chuai and his army fought against the ogres ( above ) and overcame the enemy.

However some say that Emperor Chuai was defeated by Kumaso and died in Kyushu. Actually the details of the Emperor are unknown. There are some theories as for whether the Emperor Chuai had existed or not.

There is an Onsen hot spring bath house "Iwatoya" ( above ) in Kagura-Monzen-Toji-Mura. "Iwatoya" offers various kinds of baths including an open-air stone bath, a sauna, a jet bath, a medicated bath and so on. Tourists could enjoy Onsen baths before and/or after watching Kagura performance.

There are a few Ryokan accommodation ( Japanese style hotels ) in Kagura-Monzen-Toji-Mura. In Ryokan, tourists could experience staying in a Japanese style rooms ( above ).

A few Ryokan and restaurant in Kagura-Monzen-Toji-Mura would offer Japanese style set meals ( above ).

On the other hand, there are some restaurants which offer simple foods such as ramen, soba, and udon noodles. The above photo shows Yasha Udon ( udon noodles topped with pork and spring onions in hot chilli soup ). Also there are a cafe, a teahouse, a bakery and some more shops in Kagura-Monzen-Toji-Mura.

There are ruins of Yoshida-Koriyama-jo Castle in Akitakata City. No buildings but ruins of baileys, earthen walls, dry moats and stone walls ( above ) remain at the site, which is one of designated National Historic Sites of Japan.

Yoshida-Koriyama-jo Castle was built as a small fort in the 14th century by one of the ancestors of Motonari Mori, who enlarged the castle extensively in the 16th century while he expanded his domain as he ruled Iwami Ginzan. However the castle was demolished in the late 16th or early 17th century after his grandson built a large castle in Hiroshima in A.D.1598.

Akitakata City is famous not only for Kagura performance but also for ruins of Yoshida-Koriyama-jo Castle and Motonari Mori, one of the most powerful warlords in Sengoku-Jidai ( Age of Warring States ==> A History of Japan vol.2 Samurai Age ).