Murmuring of the clear stream, Cultural atmosphere
Gujo Hachiman is the spiritual home of Japan
The getas leap, the sleeve of yukatas flutter
Dance all night in the summer of Oku Minou Gujo Hachiman is a wonderful place where everyone who comes here for the first time becomes obsessed by the charm of the dance and the town. Gujo Hachiman is also the place where we met Bon Dancing for the first time.
We were impressed when we witnessed them dance Bon Dancing not to a prerecorded music, but to the folk song that was passed down from generations of ancestors. We were also surprised that they were succeeding dances that have 10 types of variations. Each of the dances not only has their own attractions but is easy to learn and fun to dance.
This is a Bon Dancing that you dance in the narrow streets unchanged since old times. So the distance between the dancers and the spectators is short and everyone is in a harmonious whole. Therefore anyone can join the dance when they feel like dancing. This is why they call Gujo Dance “A dance which you dance, not a dance which you watch.”
Modern Japan is losing the “dance” from daily life and is about to forget the joy of dancing. Gujo Hachiman is a valuable place where it makes us recall the tradition of rich dance culture in Japan. Gujo Dancing is one of the 3 biggest folk dancing in Japan; Awa Dancing, Hanagasa Dancing, Gujo Dancing; and is a Bon Dancing that represents Japan.
| Schedule/Location | |
|---|---|
| Schedule | Period: Middle of July to the beginning of September, (All night dancing: August 13 to August 16) |
| Location | Dancing venue within the town of Gujo Hachiman. * The venue changes depending on the day. Look the “information to join” for details. |
| Trains, buses | JR Tokaido Shinkansen, Nagoya Station→ JR Tokaido Line Minoh Ota Station (about 40 minutes on an express train)→Nagaragawa Railroad, Gujo Hachiman Station (90 minutes) |
| Cars | Tomei Expressway Meishin Ichinomiya JCT Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway －Gujo Hachiman IC （Around an hour） |
Movie
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