Private multi-day tour · Multi-day from Tokyo
From Tokyo: 2-Day Kitakami Demon Dance Customizable Tour
Learn about Onikenbai, Kitakami's powerful demon-mask sword dance, at its museum, and walk old farmhouses at Michinoku Folklore Village.
Private · your group only◆2 days◆Up to 6 guests◆Pickup included
Road-day snapshot
This is your private tour, so the route is flexible: tell us if you want to skip a stop, stay longer somewhere or add a place nearby.
The experience
A private journey, thoughtfully paced
Onikenbai is a folk dance from Kitakami in Iwate. Dancers wear fierce masks that look like demons, but they are really Buddhist guardians. They jump, stamp and swing swords to drive away evil and bring peace. The dance has been passed down in local villages for centuries. This 2-day trip takes you into this world of masks and old village life.
On day 1 your driver-guide picks you up at your hotel in central Tokyo and drives north on the Tohoku Expressway, with rest stops. In the afternoon you visit the Onikenbai museum, Oni no Yakata, in Kitakami. You see masks and costumes, learn the meaning of the dance, and watch films of the dancers. Live dance shows are held only on some days, so they are not part of the fixed plan. You stay in Kitakami that night.
On day 2 you visit the Michinoku Folklore Village. Old farmhouses from the region, including L-shaped houses where families and horses once lived under one roof, stand in a quiet park. You walk inside them and see how people lived in the snowy north. Next you walk in Kitakami Tenshochi Park along the Kitakami River. In late April it is one of the most famous cherry blossom spots in Tohoku. After a local lunch you drive back to your Tokyo hotel, arriving in the evening.
The trip runs from April to November.
This is a private tour. Only your group. One van, 1 to 6 guests, never shared with strangers. Your driver-guide speaks English, and also Hindi and Urdu. If the Onikenbai museum is closed on your date, you can take a full refund of your booking, guaranteed. If you prefer, we can instead visit a folk performing arts display at another Kitakami museum.
Day 1 Pickup in Tokyo, drive to Kitakami, Onikenbai museum Oni no Yakata
Day 2 Michinoku Folklore Village, Tenshochi Park, local lunch, drive back to your Tokyo hotel
Choose with confidence
Is this the right journey for your group?
Excellent fit if
- See the fierce masks of the Onikenbai sword dance
- Learn the meaning of the dance at Oni no Yakata
- Walk inside old L-shaped farmhouses at Michinoku Folklore Village
- Stroll Tenshochi Park, famous for cherry blossoms in late April
- Watch films of the dancers in action
Said plainly
Season: April to November Live Onikenbai dances are held only on some days. The museum shows films and displays every open day If the Onikenbai museum is closed or cancelled on your date, you can take a full refund of your booking, guaranteed. If you prefer, we can instead visit a folk performing arts display at another Kitakami museum Kitakami is about 470 km from Tokyo. Expect about 6 hours of driving each way
Your day
Suggested itinerary
Times are approximate. Your driver-guide adjusts the order for traffic, weather, opening hours and the best light.
See the fierce masks of the Onikenbai sword dance
Learn the meaning of the dance at Oni no Yakata
Walk inside old L-shaped farmhouses at Michinoku Folklore Village
Stroll Tenshochi Park, famous for cherry blossoms in late April
Watch films of the dancers in action
What is covered
What you see is what you pay
Ours — included
- Private van and English-speaking driver-guide
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in central Tokyo
- All parking, fuel and road tolls
- Onikenbai museum Oni no Yakata entry
- Michinoku Folklore Village entry
- Local lunch on day 2
Yours — paid on the day
- Hotel accommodation (you book your own hotel in Kitakami)
- Meals and drinks unless listed as included
- Gratuities, which are never expected in Japan
- Optional souvenir purchases
Good to know
Before you book
Languages
English, Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi
Pickup
Pickup and drop-off at your Tokyo hotel or accommodation (23 wards).
Group and vehicle
Private for up to 6 guests. Enter adults, children, infants and child seats separately at booking.
Dietary and mobility needs
Halal, vegetarian, allergy, walking or other practical requests go in your booking notes and are planned before the day.
Questions
Frequently asked
Can we change the route on the day?
Yes. It is a private tour in our own van, so your driver-guide can skip, extend or add stops where time allows.
Is the price per person?
No. The price is for your whole private group of up to 6 people, including the van, fuel, tolls, parking and your driver-guide.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for an automatic full refund to the original payment method. Within 24 hours, contact us directly so we can help. If a typhoon or official weather warning stops the trip, we offer a new date or a full refund. For a GetYourGuide booking, the terms shown on that booking apply.
Somewhere else in mind?
Any destination in Japan
If this route is not exactly what you need, tell us the destination, dates and group. We confirm the plan and the exact price before any payment is taken.
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From¥179,000
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