Gero Ta-no-Kami Festival

Overview

Gero no Ta no Kami Matsuri (下呂の田の神祭) is an ancient Shinto ritual held from February 7 to 14 at Morimina shi Hachiman Shrine in the Mori district of Gero City, Gifu Prefecture. It prays for a bountiful harvest in the coming year and was designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan in 1976. It is one of the most representative yoshuku (pre-celebratory) rituals in the Hida region.

History

The festival is said to have originated in the Kamakura to Muromachi period, giving it a history of approximately 700 years. As a ritual of Morimina shi Hachiman Shrine, it has long been rooted in the local community, with participants performing the motions of rice planting to predict and pray for an abundant harvest. Despite the rapid modernization of postwar Japan, local preservation societies have continued to safeguard this tradition.

Highlights

The central feature is a series of performances by villagers dressed as symbolic agricultural figures — the elder (okina), the shrine maiden (miko), and the hoe-bearer (kuwa-mochi) — wearing white facial makeup and distinctive costumes. On the hall of the shrine, they solemnly enact the full cycle of rice cultivation, from tilling the soil to planting and harvesting. The main festival on February 14 features overnight performances of kagura (sacred music) and dengaku (rice-field dance), with local residents gathered around bonfires in a fantastical scene.

Event Information

The venue is Morimina shi Hachiman Shrine in Mori, Gero City, Gifu Prefecture. The nearest station is Gero Station on the JR Takayama Main Line, about a 20-minute walk away. The festival runs annually from February 7 to 14, with the main ritual on February 14. As it takes place in a mountainous region in winter, warm clothing and snow-ready footwear are essential. Admission is free, though photography may be restricted during certain rituals — visitors should follow on-site instructions.

Nearby Attractions

Gero Onsen, ranked as one of Japan's three most famous hot springs, makes the festival ideal for combining with a hot-spring retreat. The Gero Onsen Gassho Village preserves relocated thatched-roof farmhouses from the Hida region, offering a glimpse of rural culture. Nearby Nigorigo Onsen and ski resorts at the foot of Mount Ontake are also accessible in winter.

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