What can I do at the museum?

View over 150 Namahage masks and costumes, watch live demonstration performances, participate in Namahage transformation experiences by wearing costumes for photos, and see videos of actual rituals.

Are there English explanations at the museum?

Audio guides or multilingual explanations are available to assist non-Japanese speakers in understanding the exhibits.

Can I see live Namahage performances at the museum?

Yes. The museum offers live demonstration performances at scheduled times where performers dressed as Namahage reenact house visit scenarios with traditional dialogue and dramatic movements.

Is public transportation to the museum limited?

Yes. Bus service from Hadachi Station to the museum is limited and requires schedule verification. Rental cars provide more flexible access.

Can I buy Namahage souvenirs at the museum?

Yes. The museum shop sells Namahage-themed souvenirs, crafts, and local Oga Peninsula products.

Akita

Namahage Museum

4.3 (4217)Tourist AttractionMuseumPoint Of InterestEstablishment

Last updated May 17, 2026

Namahage Museum is a cultural facility dedicated to the Namahage folk tradition in Oga City, Akita Prefecture. The museum preserves the Namahage custom, a centuries-old New Year's Eve ritual from the Oga Peninsula. During the tradition, villagers wearing demon-like masks and straw cloaks visit homes on New Year's Eve (December 31st) as supernatural beings who admonish lazy or misbehaving people while blessing households. Origins remain unclear, with theories suggesting connections to mountain deities, purification rites, or cautionary practices. The tradition was designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property and inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2018 as part of "Raiho-shin, ritual visits of deities in masks and costumes."

The museum documents the Namahage tradition through exhibits and artifacts. The collection includes over 150 Namahage masks and costumes from different Oga Peninsula villages showing regional variations. Exhibits explain ritual procedures, mask and garment creation, dialect phrases, and social functions. The museum contextualizes Namahage within Japanese folklore and seasonal rituals. Preservation addresses concerns about tradition continuation amid rural depopulation and modernization.

Visitors view the mask and costume collection and watch video presentations of actual rituals. Namahage transformation experiences allow wearing reproduction costumes and masks for photographs. Live demonstration performances at scheduled times feature performers reenacting house visits with loud voices, dramatic movements, and traditional dialogue. The museum shop sells Namahage-themed souvenirs and local products. Adjacent Shinzan Shrine connects to spiritual aspects.

Namahage Museum is accessible from Akita City via the JR Oga Line to Hadachi Station (approximately 60 minutes), then bus or taxi to the museum (roughly 15 to 20 minutes). Limited bus service requires schedule verification. Rental cars from Akita City take approximately 60 to 90 minutes. Direct buses from Akita Station may operate seasonally. Admission typically costs 500 to 800 yen for adults.

Hours

Sunday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Monday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Tuesday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Wednesday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Thursday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Friday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Saturday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Phone

+81 185-22-5050

Website

www.namahage.co.jp

Overview

Address

Mizukuisawa Kitaurashinzan, Oga, Akita 010-0685, Japan

Frequently Asked Questions

Traveler reviews

Came here in the spring of 26. Delightful museum. I didnt do the folklore museum, just the Namahage section Now i have a better understanding of Namahage. Love the costumes, visitors can put on. Most visitors enjoyed this. Pls dont miss the video which showed the traumatic experiences of toddlers. Not funny Unfortunately its a long drive to reach this museum. Would be more popular had it been build near a shopping mall. Kids will sure love this place

Oliver Tang

Apr 29, 2026

Absolute 5 star content. Superb museum, and a wonderful way of preserving a fascinating piece of intangible cultural heritage. We had an excellent time, the museum does especially well when compared to some other Japanese museums at presenting the subjects of the collection in a clear and easily understandable way, with both a fantastic documentary video and live demonstrations available daily. I was especially impressed by the fact that the tradition involves using locals dressed as demons to come to your house and terrify your children into behaving themselves - while this is incredibly satisfying to watch in documentary form, the live demonstration of the traditional interaction involved actual terrorising of real life children (in the audience) right in front of us! Genuinely made my week seeing the unsuspecting younger visitors to the museum absolutely lose it in the face of the real life Namahage!!!! Five stars.

It's quite a small Museum but very nice. If you go more away from the Museum there is a shrine. I don't know how it's like in the other seasons but it was nice to see it with the snow. Plus I made a snowman to keep the other snowman company. I made the one on the left waving hello.

Quite interesting to learn about the culture specific to Oga peninsula, but really need to time with the live show! Worth the short trip from Oga town, especially with the scenery on a snowy day.

Very well done museum explaining and demonstrating Namahage. The museum does an excellent job of explaining Namahage for the entire region and provides a wide range of examples. The demonstration is well worth the extra cost.