400 years of history: Enjoy traditional Japanese performing arts A journey to experience Japan through soul-stirring drumming and Yatsushika odori deer dance

An experience of the Hayakawa-ryu Suzunome Shishi Odori (Eight Deer Dance), a 400-year-old folk performing art designated an Intangible Cultural Heritage. Eight dancers wear carved wooden deer heads and sasara drums, performing powerful movements for ancestral memorial rites and to ward off evil. The plan includes watching the performance, an explanation of its history, and a commemorative photo session.

Details

Plan Price: ¥105,000 per group

What’s Included: Performance fee, commemorative photo, arrangement fee

Not Included: Transportation to venue, personal expenses (beverages, etc.)

Set Dates: April 1, 2025–March 31, 2026
*Available year-round by reserving in advance
*Weekend and holiday reservations receive priority. Weekday reservations also accepted.

Excluded Date: None (Available by advance reservation)

Time Length: 1 hour

Meeting Place&Time

[Meeting Place]
Suzunome Kaikan (114-3 Shimoyachi, Ichihasama Suzunome, Kurihara-shi, Miyagi-ken)

[Meeting Time]
15 minutes prior to desired start time*
*Please be sure to inform us in the event you will arrive late.

Map

Min. # of Participation: 1 person

Max. # of Participants: 30 people

Supoported Languages: Japanese
*In the event English support is required, please come accompanied by an interpreter.

Plan Details

Designated an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Miyagi and beloved by First-generation Daimyo of the Sendai Domain Masamune Date, experience the Hayakawa-ryu Suzunome Shishi Odori deer dance.

The Yatsu Shika Odori deer dance is a folk performing art from Kurihara Ichihasama area with a 400-year history, which has been registered as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Miyagi Prefecture. The dance is called Yatsu Shika (lit. “Eight Deer”) due to the fact that there are 8 dancers per group.

They dance imitating the form of deer, wearing deer horns mounted on carved wooden deer heads and a sasara drum at the. Wearing drums they pound, the performance is characterized by powerful movements conveying a meaning of ancestral memorial rites and rituals to ward off evil.

Course Details

1. Watch dance performance
(Performance venue: Suzunome San Shrine grounds*　 *Subject to change depending on weather)
: Enjoy watching the Hayakawa-ryu Suzunome Shishi Odori deer dance, beloved by Masamune Date and designated an Intangible Cultural Property of Miyagi Prefecture. Photography is permitted during the performance.

2. Explanation of the dance
Receive an explanation of the content and history of the performance from a member of the Suzunome Yatsu Shishi Preservation Society.

3. Commemorative photo
Gather with the performers to freely take commemorative photos.

Necessary When making a reservation

1. Desired performance date

2. Lead traveler name

3. Number of guests

4. Contact information for day of performance

Other(Notes)

– Please wear shoes which are easy to walk in, and clothing appropriate for the season.

– Please note that in the event of rain, the dance performance will take place indoors. Likewise, performances in winter may also take place indoors depending on snow conditions.

Cancellation Policy

By 1 day prior to performance: Free

Day of/No show: 100%

Closing Date: 30 days in advance

Operating Company: Kawaguchi Green Center (Head contact: Masafumi Shirotori )
Business hours: 8:30AM–5:00 PM
Address: 8 Kawaguchi Machijiri, Ichihasama, Kurihara-shi, Miyagi-ken
Closing days: Sundays and public holidays
Tel: 0228-54-2276
Email: kgc@greencenter.co.jp

Inquiries: Miyagi Prefecture Tourism Federation
14th floor of the Miyagi Prefectural Government Building, 3-8-1, Hon-cho, Aoba Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi, Japan 〒980-8570
Tel: +81-22-221-1864　Fax: +81-22-211-2829
Email: dmo@miyagi-kankou.or.jp
Business Days: Monday to Friday
Business Hours: 8:30 am – 5:15 pm (JST)