Tokyo Tama Tourist Site

Okutama Town is home to many traditional performing arts, and among them are the folk traditions once practiced in Ogouchi Village, a community that was submerged beneath the waters of the Ogouchi Dam. These cherished arts have been preserved by former villagers and are now performed as offerings during the Ogouchi Shrine Festival held each September.

What is the Ogouchi Shrine Festival?

Four performances are dedicated at the festival: the Hara Lion Dance, Sakamoto Lion Dance, Kawano Lion Dance, and Kashima Dance. On the day of the festival, members of each preservation society march in procession to the shrine, performing dances that range from vigorous and powerful to solemn and reverent.

Following the lion dances comes the Kashima Dance, designated as a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property. Its origin is uncertain?some say it was brought by aristocrats who fled Kyoto to live in seclusion here, others that it was taught by a traveling monk.

The dance is performed by six men dressed as women, wearing purple long-sleeved kimono (furisode) with flowing sashes, golden crowns, and faces painted white with red lips. Accompanied by flutes, songs, and drums, they dance gracefully, holding folding fans decorated with the Japanese flag, their white *tabi* socks moving lightly across the stage.

Ogouchi Shrine ? The Guardian of This Land

Ogouchi Shrine serves as the guardian deity of this area. It was established by enshrining several shrines from the original Ogouchi Village before the village was submerged beneath the dam’s reservoir. Located just a short walk from the Kawauchi Shrine Bus Stop, it also provides access to the famous “Drum Can Bridge”?a floating bridge that once used real drums for buoyancy, now replaced with plastic barrels.

Nearby is the Okutama Water and Green Interaction Center, where visitors can learn about Okutama’s natural environment and the importance of water resources.

The Ogouchi Shrine Festival is a joyful autumn event that brings together those who remember the vanished village, celebrating their heritage with dance and community spirit. The lush lakeside area turns into a vibrant spot of autumn foliage, making it a perfect destination for a scenic small-bus trip.

Event Period	Mid-September (annually)
Access	From JR Okutama Station, take a Nishi Tokyo Bus to “Ogouchi Shrine.” Approx. 8-minute walk from the stop.
Website	https://www.town.okutama.tokyo.jp/1/kyoikuka/bunka_sports/1062.html This article was brought to you by the editorial team of “Another TOKYO TAMA”, operated by the Tama Tourism Promotion Council, which provides sightseeing information for Okutama Town and the entire Tama region.
Discover more about the Tama area	https://at-tama.tokyo/lang_en/ Photos courtesy of Takako Shigegaki