Shio Kagura at Zaimokuza Beach (材木座海岸 潮神楽)

What Is the Shio Kagura at Zaimokuza Beach?

The Shio Kagura (潮神楽) is a Shinto rite held every January 11 at Zaimokuza Beach (材木座海岸) in Kamakura (鎌倉) to pray for a good catch and safety at sea in the new year. It is said to have begun in the mid-Edo period, when local fishermen prayed for a big catch during a run of poor fishing. It was once run by the fishermen themselves, but today it is carried on as a New Year event by the parishioners of Gosho Shrine (五所神社), the guardian shrine of Zaimokuza. The rite is performed by a priest from Yakumo Shrine (八雲神社) in Omachi (大町). Locally it is also called the Shio Matsuri (汐まつり).

Date and Time

The Shio Kagura takes place every January 11 and usually begins at 10:00 AM. It is held on the sand at Zaimokuza Beach. After the kagura, a dondon-yaki (どんどん焼き), a bonfire that burns New Year decorations and old amulets, is usually held on the same beach from 11:00 AM. On rainy or very windy days, the Shio Kagura is held in the grounds of Gosho Shrine instead, and the dondon-yaki is cancelled.

Highlights

A wide ritual space is set up on the sand, with green bamboo poles at the four corners, a rope strung between them and straw mats laid inside. An altar faces the sea, with offerings of sea bream and other seafood, vegetables, mandarin oranges and sacred sake. First, members of a preservation society in matching hanten (半纏), short traditional work coats, offer the Tenno Uta (天王唄), a song said to have been sung by the people who carried timber in the Kamakura period. Next, a priest recites norito (祝詞), Shinto prayers, and the Kamakura Kagura (鎌倉神楽) is performed. Kamakura Kagura is a form of yudate kagura (湯立神楽), a sacred dance using water boiled in a cauldron, and the priests dance to flutes and drums.

The priests dip bamboo leaves into the hot water and shake them, sprinkling the spray over the onlookers as well. Being splashed is said to keep you in good health for the year. Partway through the kagura, sacred sake is served to those attending. In the bow dance, a priest shoots arrows in the four directions to drive away evil. Only the arrow aimed at the altar in front is never released. The arrows that fly are lucky charms, and some people rush to pick them up.

At the end of the kagura, a tengu (天狗), a long-nosed mountain spirit in a red mask, and Yama no Kami (山の神), the mountain deity in a black mask, appear. Yama no Kami plays a role called modoki (もどき), comically mimicking the tengu’s sword dance and making the crowd laugh. As they dance, the two throw offering mandarin oranges to the onlookers. On clear days, you can watch the kagura with Mt. Fuji (富士山) in the background.

Watching the Event

Watch from the sand outside the rope around the ritual space. You can see it close enough for the hot-water spray and the oranges to reach you. The seaside is cold in winter, so dress warmly. On the same day, January 11, the Shio Matsuri at Sakanoshita Beach (坂ノ下海岸) is also held. Both start at around 10:00 AM, so you cannot see both from the beginning. If you watch the Shio Matsuri at Sakanoshita (about 30 minutes) and then walk east along the shore for about 30 minutes, you will be in time for the dondon-yaki at Zaimokuza.

Access | Visiting During Your Stay at Toshi’s Place

Zaimokuza Beach is about a 20-minute walk from JR Kamakura Station (鎌倉駅), or take a bus from the east exit of Kamakura Station and get off at Zaimokuza bus stop, right by the beach. Zaimokuza Beach is within walking distance of every Toshi’s Place property: head to Yuigahama Beach (由比ヶ浜), walk east along the shore and cross the Namerigawa River (滑川) to reach Zaimokuza Beach. For inquiries, contact Gosho Shrine (0467-25-0949).

At Toshi’s Place, fully unstaffed smart hotels with fully equipped kitchens and room-only stays, you can head out to New Year morning events at your own pace.

Summary

The Shio Kagura at Zaimokuza Beach is a Shinto rite held on the sand every January 11, where the yudate-style Kamakura Kagura is performed and a tengu and the mountain deity throw mandarin oranges, praying for a good catch and safety at sea. Also see the Shio Matsuri at Sakanoshita Beach on the same day and the Funaoroshi at Sakanoshita Beach on January 2. For Zaimokuza’s highlights throughout the year, see Zaimokuza Beach.

Basic Information

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