Sasayama Kasuga Noh at Kurooka Kasuga Shrine on April 11th, 2026

In April 2025, amidst the falling cherry blossoms, “The 50th Anniversary Sasayama Kasuga Noh” captivated a large audience with its mystical performances. The event welcomed many visitors and concluded with great success. And in April 2026, we will hold the “51st Sasayama Kasuga Noh. Otsuki Bunzo, a Living National Treasure, will perform again this year on the Noh stage, which is a Nationally Designated Important Cultural Property. We invite you to experience a special moment where nature, history, and Noh become one.

Date and Time

Saturday, April 11, 2026
Doors Open: 11:00 AM Performance Starts: 1:30 PM

Venue

Kasuga Shrine Noh Stage (Nationally Designated Important Cultural Property) 75 Kurooka, Tambasasayama, Hyogo

Program & Cast

Noh: “Kakitsubata” (Water Iris) by Otsuki Bunzo, (Living National Treasure)

Kyogen*: “Shimizu” (Spring Water) by Shigeyama Motohiko
*comedic theater

Noh: “Kokaji” (The Blacksmith) By Kanze Tetsunojo

Admission

Reserved Seats

– S Seat (Front View): Advance: ¥7,500 At the Door: ¥8,000

– A Seat (Front North/Front Back/Side Front): Advance: ¥6,000 | At the Door: ¥6,500

– B Seat (Front South/Side Back): Advance: ¥5,500 At the Door: ¥6,000

General Admission (Unreserved Seating) (Front North Back / Front South Back / Middle View)

– Adults: Advance: ¥4,500 At the Door: ¥5,000

– Students (University and under): Advance: ¥1,000 At the Door: ¥1,000

Students are required to present a valid student ID card on the day of the performance.

How to Purchase Advance Tickets

Advance Ticket Sales: Feb 14 (Sat), 10:00 AM – Apr 3 (Fri), 5:00 PM, 2026

Ticket Outlets:
・Lawson or Mini Stop
Lawson Ticket (L-Code: 52147)
・Museum of Noh Artifacts, Sasayama
175 Kawaramachi, Tambasasayama
Phone: +81-79-552-3513
・Tambasasayama Tourist Information Center
97 Kitashinmachi, Tambasasayama
Phone: +81-79-552-3380

Door Ticket Sales: From 10:00 AM, April 11 (Sat), 2026

Information for Visitors

Entrance Procedures

11:00 AM: Doors Open & Reception

Guests with advance tickets may proceed directly to the reception for check-in. Guests without advance tickets, please purchase one at the Door Ticket Tent.

〇For Unreserved Seat Visitors

– At the reception, you will receive a “Seat Marker” (Name Card). Please write your name on it and place it on your seat to reserve your spot.

〇For Reserved Seat Visitors

– Please check your seat type and number on your ticket, and kindly be seated before the performance begins.

〇About Re-entry

– After checking in, you are free to leave and re-enter the venue until the performance begins. Please show your ticket stub to the staff when re-entering.

Venue Etiquette

– Please refrain from taking photos or using flash photography.

– Please turn off your mobile phones or set them to silent mode during the performance.

– The use of umbrellas and parasols is not permitted in the seating area.

Restroom Information

Restrooms inside the venue may become crowded. Please feel free to also use the restrooms at “Tokusankan Sasayama” (local souvenir shop nearby).

How to Purchase via Lawson Ticket

Tickets are available at Loppi terminals in all Lawson and MINISTOP stores nationwide. Select “Customers with various numbers” (各種番号をお持ちの方), enter the L-Code “52147”, and follow the on-screen instructions. After completing the operation, take the Loppi voucher to the store cashier to pay for and receive your ticket.

Synopsis

Synopsis: Noh Play “Kakitsubata” (Water Iris)
Setting: Yatsuhashi, Mikawa Province (Present-day Aichi Prefecture)

A traveling monk arrives in Mikawa Province (Aichi) on his journey from Kyoto through Mino and Owari. Enchanted by the beauty of the water irises blooming in full glory by the water’s edge, he is approached by a woman. The woman explains that this place is Yatsuhashi, a site famous for its water irises. She tells him that it was here that Ariwara no Narihira composed the celebrated poem from “The Tales of Ise,” which weaves the syllables of “Ka-ki-tsu-ba-ta” into its verses. She then invites the monk to spend the night at her humble cottage. Upon arriving at her hut, the woman puts on a dazzling robe (karaginu) and a court crown—keepsakes of Empress Takako and Narihira, both mentioned in the “Kakitsubata” poem. She then reveals her true identity: she is the Spirit of the Water Iris.
Reciting famous ancient verses and Narihira’s own poems, the Spirit sings and dances, explaining that Narihira was actually an incarnation of the Bodhisattva of Song and Dance. She reveals that he used poetry as a means to convey Buddhist teachings, bringing peace to the many women he loved through the power of his verses. The Spirit expresses her joy, realizing that even as a plant, she has attained enlightenment through Narihira’s poetry. As the first light of dawn begins to break, she eventually vanishes into the morning mist.

Kyogen: Shimizu (A servant seeks easier working conditions)

To host a tea ceremony—a very popular trend at the time—the master orders his servant, Taro Kaja, to fetch water from the famous “Nonaka no Shimizu” (Spring in the Middle of the Field). Taro Kaja hesitates, claiming the place is haunted by demons, but the master insists, hands him a prized bucket, and sends him on his way. Taro Kaja thinks to himself: “If I fetch the water once, I’ll surely be ordered to do it again and again—what a nuisance!” Scheming to avoid the work, he returns home and tells a lie: “A demon appeared! I had to drop the bucket and run for my life!” Upon hearing this, the master decides to take matters into his own hands and sets out for the spring himself to recover his precious bucket. Panicked that his lie will soon be exposed, Taro Kaja rushes ahead of his master to reach the spring first. He disguises himself as the demon to deceive his master, but…

Noh “Kokaji” (The Swordsmith)
Setting: Sanjo, Kyoto

An imperial messenger visits Sanjō Kokaji Munechika, a renowned swordsmith in Kyoto. The messenger delivers an imperial decree from Emperor Ichijō: following a divine revelation in a dream, Munechika is commanded to forge a new sacred sword with the utmost urgency. Munechika, lacking a skilled partner to assist him, visits Inari Shrine to pray for the help of his clan’s guardian deity. While at the shrine, a mysterious boy calls out to him. To Munechika’s amazement, this boy already knows of the secret imperial command. He encourages the smith by recounting miraculous tales of legendary swords from China and Japan. Promising to be Munechika’s partner at the forge, he then vanishes. Returning home, Munechika dresses in ceremonial robes and purifies the smithing altar. As he waits in prayer, the Spirit of the Inari Deity appears in its divine fox form. The Deity serves as Munechika’s striking partner, and together they successfully forge the imperial sword. The masterpiece, named “Kogitsune-maru” (Little Fox), is presented to the imperial messenger.

About Kasuga Shrine Noh Stage and Sasayama Kasuga Noh

Kasuga Shrine Noh Stage

The Noh stage at Kasuga Shrine was constructed and presented to the shrine in 1861 by Aoyama Tadanaga, the 13th lord of the Sasayama Domain.” ‘Tadanaga was such an enthusiastic supporter of Noh that he hosted authentic Noh performances even before the stage was constructed. After serving as Roju in Edo for four years, Tadanaga built this Noh stage, modeling it after the Honmaru Palace Noh Stage of Edo Castle. At the time of its construction, it was renowned as the most splendid Noh stage west of Hakone. A unique feature of this stage is the seven large ceramic jars positioned beneath the stage. These jars act as natural resonators, enhancing the sound and acoustics of the performances. In September 2024, more than 160 years after its original construction, a major restoration and preservation project was completed, including essential seismic retrofitting.

Sasayama Kasuga Noh

With the arrival of the Meiji period, Noh performances at the Kasuga Shrine stage became rare. Eventually, the stage was no longer used for its intended purpose. However, dedicated local volunteers made tireless efforts to revive the Noh performances at Kasuga Shrine. Thanks to their passion, the first Sasayama Kasuga Noh was held in 1973 (Showa 48). Despite a few interruptions over the years, the event has been held almost annually. In 2025 (Reiwa 7), the Sasayama Kasuga Noh reached its 50th performance milestone. In addition, “Gancho-noh” (New Year’s Day Noh) is held annually on January 1st, where the ritual play “Okina” is dedicated to the shrine to pray for peace and prosperity. Currently, Noh performances are held twice a year at the Kasuga Shrine stage. Under the swirling cherry petals, the subtle and profound world of Noh and Kyogen—a tradition spanning over 150 years since the stage’s construction—will unfold.

●Access

By Train: Take the Wing Shinki Bus from the JR Sasayamaguchi Station (West Exit) and get off at “Kasuga Jinja-mae”. The shrine is just a short walk from the bus stop.
By Car: Exit at Tannan-Sasayamaguchi IC on the Maizuru-Wakasa Expressway. The venue is about a 10-minute drive from the exit.

●Event Date: The second Saturday of April (April 11 in 2026).

Basic Information

Postal Code: 669-2321

Address: 1015, Kurooka, Tambasasayama, Hyogo

Phone: +81-79-552-0074

Parking: Please use the municipal parking lots nearby.

Access (Train / Bus):
Train: “Sasayamaguchi Station” on the JR Fukuchiyama Line
Bus: “Kasuga Jinja-mae” on the Wing Shinki Bus. The venue is a short walk from the bus stop.