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🏮 Rokugo no Kamakura Takeuchi

六郷のカマクラ・竹うち

Miyako, Akita (Suwa Shrine) · Every year on 11 February

Important Intangible Folk Cultural PropertySnow festival

150 days to go
Rooms around Miyako, Akita fill up while the festival is on.

Rokugo no Kamakura, held over five days in mid-February each year in front of Akita Suwa Shrine and in the Kamakura fields of Misato, Akita Prefecture, is a small New Year observance designated a nationally important intangible folk cultural property. Combining "toshigoi" (prayers for a good harvest and safety and prosperity) with "akuma-barai" (driving out crop failure and misfortune), it is a fire festival with more than 700 years of history that divines the year's fortunes. The festival is said to have been introduced by the Nikaido clan, who became local stewards of Rokugo in the early Kamakura period, bringing with them the legacy of the "kishogaki" (first writing of the year, burned as an offering) from the Shogitai New Year fire ritual of the Kyoto Imperial Palace. Among small New Year observances that are gradually disappearing, it preserves its original form to this day and is valued as a precious folk cultural property, with a strong sense of transmission among residents. Starting with the kurabiraki (storehouse opening) and tenpitsu kakizome (first calligraphy of the year) on the first day, the final day features takeuchi (bamboo striking) and tenpitsu yaki (burning of the first calligraphy). Takeuchi in particular begins at 8 p.m., and is the largest attraction, carrying on the prayers for a bountiful harvest of the five grains and the tradition.

Getting there

About 20 minutes by car from JR Omagari Station. About 15 minutes from the Akita Expressway Omagari IC. By bus, take the Ugo Kotsu (Yokote-Omagari Line) and get off at Rokugo Kamimachi, then walk 5 minutes.