# Namahage Sedo Festival

> Over three February nights at Shinzan Shrine, masked namahage descend the snowy mountain carrying torches and come into the bonfire light.

- Prefecture: Akita
- Type: Fire
- Admission: See official site
- Typically held: The second Friday, Saturday and Sunday of February, 18:00 to 20:30 each evening.
- Official site: https://oganavi.com/sedo/

## Dates

- 2027-02-12 to 2027-02-14
- Status: confirmed
- Dates verified on 2026-10-29 from https://oganavi.com/sedo/

On New Year's Eve in the villages of the Oga Peninsula, men in straw capes and ogre masks go from house to house shouting for lazy children and idle newcomers. The custom is a national Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property and part of a group of visiting-deity rites on UNESCO's intangible heritage list. Few visitors are in Oga on New Year's Eve, so in 1964 the custom was joined to an older winter fire rite at Shinzan Shrine to make this festival, held in February. The evening begins with young men receiving their masks from the priest. A re-enactment of the New Year's Eve visit follows in the shrine's kagura hall. The moment people come for is when a conch horn sounds and the namahage come down the snowy slope above the shrine carrying torches. Rice cakes grilled over the sacred bonfire are offered to them and later shared out among the crowd. Shinzan Shrine is on the slopes of the peninsula and a long way from Akita city, and February here is snowy and cold.

## Where it happens
- Namahage Museum

## FAQ

### When is the Namahage Sedo Festival in 2027?

On 12, 13 and 14 February 2027, from 18:00 to 20:30 each evening, at Shinzan Shrine in Oga.

### Do you need a ticket?

Yes. Entry needs advance registration and an admission fee, and registration for 2027 is due to open on 1 December 2026.

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Source: [Namahage Sedo Festival — Japan Voyage](https://travel.japanvoyage.jp/festivals/namahage-sedo-matsuri)
Last updated: 2026-10-29