What Okage-yokocho filled with the sounds of taiko drums at the ``God's Grace Japan Taiko Festival''? Introducing highlights and access [2022]

Article production/ Okage-yokocho Public Relations

▼Table of contents

• What is the Japanese Taiko Drum Festival?
• Date and location of the Japanese Taiko Drum Festival
• Schedule of the Japanese Taiko Drum Festival
• Introducing the highlights of the Japanese Taiko Drum Festival
• About experiences and food stalls
• Access to Okage-yokocho
• Nearby spots to enjoy the Shinto Thanksgiving Japan Taiko Festival even more

What is the Japanese Taiko Drum Festival?

The Shinto Thanksgiving Japan Taiko Festival is a festival that has been held since 2003, in which taiko drummers from all over the country dedicate their sounds to the shrine.

Professional and amateur Japanese drum players from all over the country gather at Okage-yokocho, and the two-day festival is a winter tradition, with the sounds of drums and bamboo flutes echoing throughout the Yokocho.

In addition to enjoying unique performances such as original Japanese drums and Japanese drums with local flavor, you can also enjoy food stalls and limited menus from restaurants.

Date and location of the Japanese Taiko Drum Festival

20th Japanese Taiko Drum Festival
Date and time: Saturday, November 12, 2022, Sunday, November 13, 2022 10:00-17:00
Venue: Okage-yokocho Taiko Tower, Isuzu Riverbed Special Stage, Oharai-Machi, Isuzu Kawano Play Area

You can move between all venues on foot.

Schedule of the Japanese Taiko Drum Festival

Performances will be held in four main venues.
The performing groups are decided for each time, so you can watch the show by targeting your favorite group.

There will be a total of 45 taiko performances over the two days at Okage-yokocho Taiko Tower and the special stage on the Isuzu River, so you will be surrounded by the sound of taiko all day long.

Introducing the highlights of the Japanese Taiko Drum Festival

This year, the 20th edition will see the return of Oharai-Machi 's Taiko parade for the first time in 11 years, and new events are planned, including a solo taiko drum competition and performances by local children.

drum parade

Floats carrying taiko drums and taiko drummers wearing matching happi coats parade lively through the streets. Two groups will make one round trip per day (total of two round trips per day). The style and tone of the performance differs depending on the group, so you can enjoy listening and comparing.

Venue Oharai-Machi

Drum parade by Shin-on Taiko
12th 12:30~
13th 15:00~
A large drum measuring 3 feet and 3 inches is placed on a float and makes a heroic sound.

Edo Hayashi Taiko drum parade by Wakayamashachu
12th 14:00~
13th 9:55~
Traditional Edo music is played.

Big drum solo competition

In this year's first solo taiko drum competition, taiko drummers, both professional and amateur, will compete to show off their enjoyment of playing and their skill for the prize of a 1 million yen drumming gift certificate.
On the 12th, there will be a preliminary round and a final round, with 10 of the 35 applicants selected through video screening, and the top two will win the right to perform on the special stage on the Isuzu River on the 13th.

Venue Isuzu Kawano Play Area

12th 10:00-11:30 (preliminary), 14:30-15:30 (final)
13th 14:00-14:30 (Performance by the top two performers/Special stage on the Isuzu River bed)

Children's drum (13th only)

There will be performances by local children. A powerful tone resonates in the nature of Ise.

Venue Isuzu Kawano Play Area

13th 10:00-12:00, 13:00-15:00
Performers: Iseko City Shoryukai (IseCity), Obata Rikyuin Children's Japanese Taiko (IseCity), Japanese Drum Hibikiza Inasegumi (MatsusakaCity), Tsu Takatora Taiko (TsuCity), Kumano Suigun Children's Taiko (KihoTown)

About experiences and food stalls

In addition to listening to taiko performances, you can also enjoy mini-taiko making workshops and food stalls.

festival stalls

There will be stalls selling noise toys, mainly drums, and festival-related items.

Venue: Isuzu Riverbed, Okage-yokocho

Limited menu

Each restaurant in Okage-yokocho will be selling limited edition Taiko Festival menus.
Also pay attention to the elaborately prepared dishes at each store.

Mini drum making experience

Experience making an authentic mini-taiko by stretching leather around a wooden body and tightening it with rope.

Every day 12:30-14:00 (approx. 90 minutes)
Venue Yokocho Ki-in
Reception from 10:00 on the day (first 20 people on both days)
*This is a paid experience.

Tree growing experience

Learn about wood, which is essential to making taiko drums, by actually touching it. You will also experience woodworking by making your own spatula and eating Akafukumochi mochi.

12th 11:00-12:00
13th 12:00-13:00
Venue: Next to Kamishibai Square
Capacity: 8 people per session
*This is a paid experience.

Access to Okage-yokocho

Access using public transportation

Get off at Kintetsu "Ujiyamada" station, take the Mie Kotsu bus bound for Naiku for about 20 minutes, get off at "Jingu Kaikan-mae" and walk for 1 minute.

Access by car

From Ise Expressway Ise IC, go straight on National Route 23 toward Naiku, about 5 minutes.

About parking lot

Please use nearby municipal parking lots. Click here for details (Rakuraku Ise Moude)

Nearby spots to enjoy the Shinto Thanksgiving Japan Taiko Festival even more

Please enjoy eating at Okage-yokocho and choosing souvenirs in conjunction with the Shinto Thank You Japan Taiko Festival. In addition, there are various spots within walking distance such as IseJingu, Sarutahiko-JinjaShrine, and Oharai-Machi around Yokocho, so please enjoy Ise all day long.

Sushihisa

Sushihisa, facing the Isuzu River, is famous for its tekone sushi. You can also enjoy the atmosphere inside the restaurant, which retains the atmosphere of the time when it served as an inn for imperial envoys from the Meiji period to the early Showa period.

Fukusuke

Fukusuke is an Ise-Udon restaurant with the appearance of a roadside udon restaurant where you can relive the Okagemiri of the Edo period. The correct way to eat this dish is to thoroughly coat the thick, soft noodles with the jet-black sauce, which is based on tamari soy sauce with a strong dashi flavor.

Souvenir shop

This is a shop that sells ``Okage Inu'' goods with the motif of dogs that visited the shrine in place of their owners who were unable to visit Ise due to illness or other reasons. The popular item ``Okage Inu Fortune'' can be enjoyed as a figurine even after drawing the fortune. A perfect souvenir for dog lovers.

fruit lab

At ``Fruit Lab,'' a shop that sells fresh juices using seasonal fruits, you can also enjoy fruits that the owner himself has purchased from around the prefecture. The autumn specialty ``Rendaiji persimmon ole'' uses Rendaiji persimmons, a natural monument of Ise, so you can enjoy the unique local flavor.

What did you think

In this article, we introduced the Taiko Festival, the Shin-on Kankan Nippon Taiko Festival, which is held once a year at Okage-yokocho. Enjoy the sounds of taiko drums from all over the country that can only be experienced at this festival!