Muika-sai (Hanabai Festival), Nagataki Hakusan Shrine

About

On January 6 every year, Nagataki Hakusan Shrine in the Shirotori area of Gujo hosts a New Year festival built around the Nagataki Ennen, ritual performing arts designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan. The word ennen first meant long life and later came to describe entertainments at great temples. Tradition says young monks and temple children performed here to thank the priests at the end of New Year rites at Hakusan Chugu Nagataki-ji, praying for peace and a good harvest. Midway through the dances comes the Hanabai: people stack onto each other's shoulders to form human ladders and snatch five large flower hats hung about 6 meters up in the worship hall. Flowers taken home are believed to bring good harvests, family safety and business success. The Nagaragawa Railway runs extra trains that day.

Sources

• OfficialGifu no Tabi Guide (Gifu Prefecture Tourism Federation) www.kankou-gifu.jp
• OfficialShirotori Tourism Association shirotori-gujo.com

Last checked: Oct 11, 2026. Event information is based on official announcements, but changes may not always be reflected here. Please check each official website for accurate details.

Other events this month

• Shirakawa-go Winter Light-up
• Sanji Mairi (Three Temples Pilgrimage)