Yamagata Arcadia Tourism Bureau (Nagai City, Yamagata Prefecture) will hold a special tour, "A Night Touring the Millennium Dance Nagai's Black Lion / Grand Festivals," on August 15, Reiwa 8 (2026), to visit multiple Black Lion Grand Festivals held in Nagai City on the same day.

The "Black Lion Culture" Inherited in Nagai

Nagai City has inherited numerous Black Lions in various districts, and the lion dances dedicated at each shrine during their grand festivals are a cherished ritual culture passed down through generations by the local people.

The Black Lion is not merely a local performing art; it is a sacred ritual where the lion visits homes as a vessel for the gods, praying for the people's good health, family safety, and abundant harvests. Parishioners prepare sacred sake and flowers to welcome the Black Lion, and this unique local culture of prayer still thrives in their daily lives.

However, as these festivals are primarily organized by local residents, opportunities for tourists to understand their background and significance are limited.

This tour will be guided by Mr. Enshin, a Black Lion YouTuber who disseminates Black Lion culture, and will visit multiple grand festivals held in Nagai City on the same day.

Furthermore, it is a special limited-to-6-people event where participants can experience the "faith" of welcoming the Black Lion by preparing sacred sake just like the locals, and enjoy special tours (under adjustment) of the shrine's main hall and community center, which are normally off-limits to the public, allowing them to glimpse the "inside" of the festival.

Touring the Diverse Black Lion Culture of Each District in One Night

Goshō Shrine (Teraizumi District) / © Toru Shibuya Tsushima Shrine (Kusaoka District) / © Toru Shibuya Sōmiya Shrine (Kanjindai District) / © Toru Shibuya

August 15th is a special day when grand festivals overlap in multiple districts of Nagai City.

This tour will visit the grand festivals of Goshō Shrine (Teraizumi District), Tsushima Shrine (Kusaoka District), and Sōmiya Shrine (Kanjindai District), depending on the day's schedule.

Although they are all "Black Lions," the lion's movements, dances, the role of the guards (keigo), and the atmosphere of the festival vary greatly from district to district.

By touring multiple districts in one night, participants will experience the diversity of Black Lion culture inherited in Nagai City and the traditions that each region has carefully preserved.

Black Lion YouTuber Enshin Will Accompany You

Mr. Enshin, a Black Lion YouTuber who has been following Nagai's Black Lions and sharing their charm on YouTube and social media, will accompany you for the entire tour.

"What to look for that's interesting"

"What does this movement mean?"

"What's different between the districts?"

He will provide easy-to-understand explanations of the festival's background and highlights.

Even those seeing the Black Lion for the first time can enjoy the festival culture more deeply.

Enshin

YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@enshin9644 ■Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/enshin9644/

Experience "Goshinjin" (Welcoming the Black Lion with Sacred Sake) Like the Locals

© Toru Shibuya

During the tour, participants will purchase sacred sake at "Maruhachi Sake Shop," a local sake specialty store in Nagai City, and write their own names on the gift tag (nōshi).

Carrying this sacred sake, they will visit the grand festival and welcome the Black Lion just like the local residents.

The act of the Black Lion opening its mouth wide and chattering its teeth is called "Goshinjin," and it carries the meaning of warding off misfortune and bestowing blessings.

This tour's greatest appeal is not just observing as a tourist, but experiencing the local culture of prayer and faith firsthand.

Special Access to Normally Inaccessible Areas Planned

With the cooperation of relevant parties, this tour is currently arranging visits to places not normally open to the public, such as the shrine's main hall and community center.

Interaction with local people who support the festival is also a unique attraction of this event.

Tour the Night Festival Safely in a Chartered Jumbo Taxi

Once the Black Lion leaves the shrine, it parades through the district, visiting the homes of parishioners.

This tour utilizes a chartered jumbo taxi, allowing participants to efficiently visit the night festival without worrying about transportation or parking.

The experience of searching for the Black Lion, guided by the sounds of flutes and drums echoing in the night, is also a unique charm of this day.

Tour Overview

Tour Date

August 15, Reiwa 8 (2026)

Tour Price

28,000 yen (tax included)

Included in Tour Price

Chartered vehicle fee, guide fee, sacred sake fee, insurance fee *Transportation costs to the location are not included.

Capacity

6 people

Minimum Number of Participants

4 people

Application Deadline

By August 11, Reiwa 8 (2026)

Tour Itinerary

Time

Itinerary (Content)

16:45

Meet at Nagai Station

16:50

Visit Sōmiya Shrine (Birthplace of the Black Lion)

17:10

Maruhachi Sake Shop: Purchase sacred sake / Shopping

18:00

[Black Lion Grand Festival Viewing] ・Goshō Shrine (Teraizumi District) ・Tsushima Shrine (Kusaoka District) ・Sōmiya Shrine (Kanjindai District)

22:30

End of viewing

22:45

Arrive at Nagai Station

Introduction to the Shrines Visited This Time

© Toru Shibuya

Goshō Shrine (Teraizumi District)

Since ancient times, Mt. Asahi and Mt. Iwai have flourished as sacred sites for mountain worship and were called Asahiyama Daigongen. It is said that in Kenki 4 (1090), by order of Minamoto no Yoshiie, five locations—Mt. Asahi, Mt. Iwagami, Mt. Koasahi, Mt. Tsukigamine, and Mitsubuchi—were enshrined together. Since then, it has been called Goshō Daimyōjin, and the place name was changed to Gosaijo.

© Toru Shibuya

Tsushima Shrine (Kusaoka District)

The Kusaoka district has been inhabited since the Jomon period, and at some point, people found solace in the gods at Tsushima Shrine. A branch spirit was invited from Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto.

The characteristic of this lion dance is that the lion's head barely moves except to open its mouth. The movements, performed in unison with the guards, are calm and dignified, creating an impressive spectacle.

© Toru Shibuya

Sōmiya Shrine (Kanjindai District)

According to historical records, it was founded in Kenpo 2 (1214). Due to the Meiji era's shrine consolidation order, Hachiman, Inari, Kōtai, and Kumano shrines were merged, and it was renamed Sōmiya Shrine. The characteristic of the lion's movements is the combination of stillness and dynamism, with quiet movements when leaving the shrine contrasted by the vigorous movements during the garden dance. The role of the guards also differs from other shrines, so please pay attention.

Connecting Local Festivals to the Future

Amidst declining birthrates and aging populations across Japan, passing down local festivals to the future is a significant challenge.

Nagai City's Black Lion is also a precious culture that local people have protected and passed down over many years.

This tour aims not only to present the festivals as tourist resources but also to convey the charm of Black Lion culture to the next generation by helping people understand the local life, faith, and human connections behind them.

The Black Lion parading through homes, welcomed by local people, to the sound of flutes and drums echoing in the Nagai night—

Please experience this special night, unique to this day.

Details and Application Here

Organizer/Tour Operator

[Tour Planning and Execution] Please contact the person in charge below for inquiries. Yamagata Arcadia Tourism Bureau TEL: 0238-88-1831

FAX: 0238-88-1812 URL https://tour.arcadia-kanko.jp/ 2-50 Higashicho, Nagai City, Yamagata Prefecture, 993-0003 Yamagata Prefecture Governor-Registered Travel Agency No. 2-292

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