Designated a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Event
This is a special program presented in collaboration with one of Heartland’s partner organizations, dedicated to preserving the traditional culture of the local area.
Furyu-odori are Japanese folk events described by UNESCO as “ritual dances imbued with people’s hopes and prayers” that have been performed for hundreds of years, particularly in the country’s rural areas. The Wagoh no Nenbutsu Odori (a traditional ritual where the residents of Wagoh dance while chanting Buddhist prayers) is designated a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage event as one of Japan’s representative furyu-odori.
Wagoh – a beautiful, deeply mountainous hamlet of Anan Town in southern Nagano – is host to this annual, four-night, mid-August event during the period of Obon (a traditional Japanese form of ancestor worship when ancestral spirits are invited to the house for memorial services).
A procession of dancers accompanied by traditional Japanese drums, flutes, and sasara (a dancing ornament made from bunches of tiny bamboo twigs and leaves) visit one of the community shrines and perform the Nenbutsu Odori dance at the house where the founder of Wagoh no Nenbutsu Odori is said to have lived, as well as in the gardens of the houses in the village.
Another characteristic of this festival is to give thanks to all idols, regardless of whether they are Shinto deities or Buddhist Buddhas.
Through this trip, visitors can experience firsthand the ancient rituals of Japanese ancestor worship and the giving of thanks to the gods.
Culture/Activity
・Recommended for those with an adventurous spirit who want to travel deep into Japan!
・In the beautiful mountain village of Wagoh, experience the prayers of the local people to their ancestors and all the gods, whose value has been recognized by UNESCO.
・Dinner is Irori Robata-yaki, Irori hearth grill. You can enjoy the culinary culture of the area while savoring locally produced seasonal ingredients.
・Accommodations will be at a hot spring inn. Enjoy a relaxing soak in the open-air bath set in the garden and enjoy the hot spring experience.
・All transportation is by private car, so it is easy and comfortable.
・The tour will be conducted in a mixed group with Japanese customers. Please enjoy meeting other tour participants.
95,000JPY~
Heartland Japan
・This tour will start accepting applications from Japanese customers before it starts accepting applications from inbound customers.
・Therefore, even if the number of inbound customers reaches the minimum number to run the tour (3
people), the tour may be cancelled if the number of Japanese customers does not reach the minimum number to run the tour.
・If the tour is organized, inbound guests will travel in the same group as Japanese guests, but inbound guests will have their own English-speaking guide.
・If you wish to apply for a tour after the application deadline (60 days prior to the scheduled tour date) or wish to increase the number of participants, we may be able to accommodate your request depending on the availability of the tour. Please contact us.
2 days and 1 night
[Arrangements are being made to begin accepting applications in late spring 2024.]
FYR: Tour schedule conducted in 2023.
[Day1]
14:00 Meet at Ringo no Sato
Visit Anan Town Rural Culture Inheritance Center (Introduction of traditional performing arts of
Anan Town including furyu-odori)
Dinner at Yuusei-kan (around a Japanese irori hearth)
Observe Wago no Nembutsu Odori (House of Miyashita family → Rinshoji temple)
Stay at Yuusei-kan
[Day2]
08:30 Departure from Yuusei-kan
Roadside Station (Michi-no Eki) Hiraya (visit sunflower field)
10:30 Tour finishes at Ringo no Sato
*All transfers are by private vehicle.
Ringo no Sato (tentative)
[By highway bus] Approx. 1.5 hours from Nagoya and 4 hours from Shinjuku. Please get off at the Igarashi Bus Stop. Ringo no Sato is the building where this bus stop is located.
August 13 ~ 14, 2024
No restriction
(Please let us know, however, if your group includes small children)
30 days prior
(Please contact us for applications after that date.)
Minimum 3 Maximum 6
Please wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes suitable for moving around.
2
The Nenbutsu Odori will be observed at night time.
1
No special requirements
Transportation to/from the meeting/end point, 1 night accommodation fee (including 1 dinner and 1 breakfast), program fee, English guide fee.
Transportation to/from the meeting point, insurance (please purchase travel insurance in your own country), anything else not specified in “what is included” above.
(Bank transfer fees are the responsibility of the participants)
N/A
[Fees in case of cancellation on behalf of the customer ]
– Cancellation 10-8 days before the starting day of the tour: 20% of the tour price.
– Cancellation 7-2 days before the starting day of the tour: 30% of the tour price.
– Cancellation the day immediately before the starting day of the tour: 40% of the tour price.
– Cancellation before the start of the tour on the day of the tour: 50% of the tour price.
– Cancellation after the start of the tour or the traveler does not participate in the tour without notice (no show): 100% of the tour price.
[Cancellation at the discretion of the organizer]
– If the tour operator deems it difficult to ensure the safety of passengers due to inclement weather or other unavoidable circumstances, the tour will be cancelled prior to the start of the tour.
– The route may be changed or the tour may be cancelled due to weather conditions after the tour has started.
– In these cases, no cancellation fee will be charged to the customer. Refunds or other measures will be taken in accordance with the provisions of the Japanese Standard Travel Conditions.