{"id":29031,"date":"2026-11-09T01:05:15","date_gmt":"2026-11-08T16:05:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kamakuraguide.com\/?page_id=29031"},"modified":"2026-11-09T15:35:02","modified_gmt":"2026-11-09T06:35:02","slug":"zaimokuza-shiokagura","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/kamakuraguide.com\/en\/omachi-zaimokuza-area\/zaimokuza-beach-kamakura\/zaimokuza-shiokagura\/","title":{"rendered":"Shio Kagura at Zaimokuza Beach (\u6750\u6728\u5ea7\u6d77\u5cb8 \u6f6e\u795e\u697d)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Sandy
Zaimokuza Beach in winter. The Shio Kagura is held on this sand.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What Is the Shio Kagura at Zaimokuza Beach?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Shio Kagura (\u6f6e\u795e\u697d) is a Shinto rite held every January 11 at Zaimokuza Beach (\u6750\u6728\u5ea7\u6d77\u5cb8)<\/a> in Kamakura (\u938c\u5009) 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 (\u4e94\u6240\u795e\u793e), the guardian shrine of Zaimokuza. The rite is performed by a priest from Yakumo Shrine (\u516b\u96f2\u795e\u793e)<\/a> in Omachi (\u5927\u753a). Locally it is also called the Shio Matsuri (\u6c50\u307e\u3064\u308a).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Illustration
The illustration is for reference only<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Date and Time<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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 (\u3069\u3093\u3069\u3093\u713c\u304d), 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Highlights<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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 (\u534a\u7e8f), short traditional work coats, offer the Tenno Uta (\u5929\u738b\u5504), a song said to have been sung by the people who carried timber in the Kamakura period. Next, a priest recites norito (\u795d\u8a5e), Shinto prayers, and the Kamakura Kagura (\u938c\u5009\u795e\u697d) is performed. Kamakura Kagura is a form of yudate kagura (\u6e6f\u7acb\u795e\u697d), a sacred dance using water boiled in a cauldron, and the priests dance to flutes and drums.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the end of the kagura, a tengu (\u5929\u72d7), a long-nosed mountain spirit in a red mask, and Yama no Kami (\u5c71\u306e\u795e), the mountain deity in a black mask, appear. Yama no Kami plays a role called modoki (\u3082\u3069\u304d), 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 (\u5bcc\u58eb\u5c71) in the background.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watching the Event<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a> (\u5742\u30ce\u4e0b\u6d77\u5cb8) 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Access | Visiting During Your Stay at Toshi’s Place<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Zaimokuza Beach is about a 20-minute walk from JR Kamakura Station (\u938c\u5009\u99c5), 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 (\u7531\u6bd4\u30f6\u6d5c)<\/a>, walk east along the shore and cross the Namerigawa River (\u6ed1\u5ddd) to reach Zaimokuza Beach. For inquiries, contact Gosho Shrine (0467-25-0949).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Summary<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a> on the same day and the Funaoroshi at Sakanoshita Beach<\/a> on January 2. For Zaimokuza’s highlights throughout the year, see Zaimokuza Beach<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Basic Information<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Item<\/th>Details<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Name<\/td>Shio Kagura at Zaimokuza Beach<\/td><\/tr>
Japanese name<\/td>\u6f6e\u795e\u697d(\u6750\u6728\u5ea7\u6d77\u5cb8<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr>
Date and time<\/td>Every January 11, usually from 10:00 AM (dondon-yaki usually from 11:00 AM)<\/td><\/tr>
Location<\/td>Zaimokuza Beach<\/td><\/tr>
Address<\/td>Zaimokuza, Kamakura, Kanagawa<\/td><\/tr>
Organizer<\/td>Parishioners of Gosho Shrine (\u4e94\u6240\u795e\u793e)<\/td><\/tr>
What happens<\/td>A Shinto rite praying for a good catch and safety at sea (Tenno Uta, yudate-style Kamakura Kagura, and a tengu and the mountain deity throwing mandarin oranges)<\/td><\/tr>
In bad weather<\/td>On rainy or very windy days, held in the grounds of Gosho Shrine; the dondon-yaki is cancelled<\/td><\/tr>
Notes<\/td>Watch from the sand outside the rope around the ritual space<\/td><\/tr>
Access<\/td>About a 20-minute walk from JR Kamakura Station, or a bus from the east exit of Kamakura Station to Zaimokuza bus stop<\/td><\/tr>
Contact<\/td>Gosho Shrine 0467-25-0949<\/td><\/tr>
Official Website<\/td>Gosho Shrine<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Google Map<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n<\/iframe>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What Is the Shio Kagura at Zaimokuza Beach? The Shio Kagura (\u6f6e\u795e\u697d) is a Shinto rite held every January 11 at Zaimokuza Beach (\u6750\u6728\u5ea7\u6d77\u5cb8) in Kamakura (\u938c\u5009) 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":29066,"parent":10306,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page__event.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"kamakura_cuisine":[],"class_list":["post-29031","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t