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 three-day Niino no Bon Odori (Bon Dance of Niino) festival – exalted by the renowned Japanese folklorist Kunio Yanagita, and designated a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage event as one of Japan’s representative Furyu-odori – is said to have a 500-year history.
Bon Odori is an annual Japanese summer custom, when people welcome the spirits of their ancestors to their homes and make offerings to them. While the most well-known form of Bon Odori is for people to dance to the accompaniment of Japanese flutes and drums, at the Niino no Bon Odori, local people dance only to the vocal dialogue sung between the leaders of the ritual, standing atop the Japanese Bon wooden tower, and the participants dancing below. The people of Niino perform dances dedicated to the spirits of their ancestors, dancing from night until morning for three days until, on the morning of the fourth day, a final ritual is held to send the spirits back.
Experience the graceful, hypnotic sights and sounds of the Niino no Bon Odori and immerse yourself in the ancient spirit of Japanese ancestral rituals.
Culture/Activity
・Recommended for those with an adventurous spirit who want to travel deep into Japan!
・Experience the prayers of Niino, whose value has been highly acclaimed by UNESCO and one of Japan’s most renowned folklorists. Dinner will be served around the hearth, tasting local seasonal ingredients and enjoying the food culture as well.
・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.
88,000 JPY~
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]
13:10Meet at Ringo no Sato
Visit Anan Town Rural Culture Inheritance Center(Explanation of Niino no Bon Odori & Workshop on how to dance)
Dinner at Yuusei-kan (around a Japanese irori hearth)
Observe Niino no Bon Odori
Stay at Yuusei-kan
[Day2]
05:00 Departure from Yuusei-kan
Observe the a final ritual to send the spirits back
Roadside Station (Michi-no Eki) Hiraya (visit sunflower field)
11:00 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 15 ~ 16, 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 Bon Odori will be observed at night time on Day 1 and early morning on Day2.
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.