Nagoya hosts multiple exciting annual events throughout the year, including seasonal festivals, samurai parades, and special cultural events for all kinds of audiences. During autumn, one of the greatest cultural festivals is the Yattokame Culture Festival.
The Yattokame Festival is a journey through Japan’s traditional performing arts, history, and culture. In 2024, it will be held from October 26th to November 17th. For almost an entire month, you can enjoy a wide variety of Nagoya’s traditional entertainments: Noh theater plays, kyōgen comedic performances, traditional geisha and maiko dances, street Kabuki plays, walking tours, and workshops.
Starting last year, the festival is changed its name to ‘Yattokame Cultural Festival DOORS,’ but what remains the same is the unique opportunity it offers to experience Nagoya’s traditional cultural scene.
Article Contents
Keeping the Culture of Nagoya Alive
Yattokame is a word from Nagoya dialect, meaning “it’s been a while” or, “long time, no see.”
Many of Japan’s performing arts have their roots in the bustling streets where performers entertained the masses. These performers created a cultural community that, even today, Nagoya’s locals strive to keep alive. This is their legacy and their pride.
Culture is something that lives, meant to be shared and passed on to the future. Tourism is one of the crucial industries that supports, promotes, and facilitates exchanges with the local culture. Therefore, foreign visitors are warmly welcomed to the Yattokame Cultural Festival DOORS.
Get to know more about Nagoya Local Food with our Specialties of Nagoya Food Tour.
Variety Is the Spice of Life
The Yattokame Cultural Events are divided into four types: Urban Performances, Traditional Performing Arts, Workshops, and Walking Tours. Let’s look at them in detail.
Urban Performances
Many streets and stages in the city will hold different genres of performances.
Kyogen
Kyōgen is a brief comic interlude that is usually played between acts of Japanese Noh plays (lyric drama). Performances are short and involve elements of slapstick and satire using an archaic version of Japanese.
*Free event.
Street Kabuki
Kabuki is a classical Japanese dance-drama that emerged during the Edo period (1603 – 1868). Originally played on the streets, street Kabuki is one of the most representative performances of the Yattokame Cultural Festival DOORS.
The kabuki play for 2025 will be utilizing AI and is scripted and directed by Chika Nishikawa of the acclaimed Nishikawa School of nihon buyō.
*Free event.
Shamisen Lute and Tabla Drum Performance
Over the course of history, music has played an intricate role in all cultures, particularly traditional folk songs that serve as a bridge between cultures, fostering deep emotional connections.
This year, you will be able to see a performance of sankyoku, which is a piece of music performed on three instruments: the koto, shamisen and shakuhachi. The shamisen, a traditional Japanese lute, is characterized by its small square body and a long-necked, fretless design, featuring three twisted-silk strings. The koto is a flat instrument with 13 strings that was introduced to Japan from Tang Dynasty China. The shakuhachi is a type of traditional Japanese flute, originally crafted from bamboo. Come listen to the melody of these three instruments playing together!
*Free event
Shachihoko Challenge
The shachihoko dance, which originated from nihon buyō, is a classical Japanese dance. This dance is a trademark of Meigiren, the Nagoya Geisha Association, and it is a required skill for all maiko and geisha of this area.
Challenge yourself and participate in the shachihoko Challenge!
NOTE: At the time of this writing, there is no updated information on the 2025 Shachihoko Challenge. It may not be showcased this year – we will update closer to the event time if new information becomes available.
Here is a video demonstration about how to dance, so you can try it at home.
Stage Performances
The most classic Japanese performing arts will be held on the most traditional stages.
Noh Theater
Noh theater combines elements of dance, drama, music, and poetry into one highly aesthetic stage art. Many of the characters including spirits, demons, gods, and women are portrayed by actors wearing extremely detailed masks and beautiful and luxurious garments.
For 2023, the chosen noh performance will include the noh play “Adachihara Hakuto” and the comical kyōgen play “Kubihiki”.
*Paid event. Advance booking is required.
Learn more about this event and buy tickets here (Japanese only)
Traditional Japanese Dining with Parlor Games and Shows (ozashiki asobi)
Enjoy elegant traditional geisha entertainment while savoring a delicious seasonal kaiseki dinner, a sophisticated Japanese haute cuisine.
You will be able to spend a delightful time watching maiko and geisha dance and performances up close. You will also have the opportunity to chat and play a variety of traditional Japanese games with these amazing artists.
This year ozashiki asobi will be performed in English for English speakers so you can fully enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience even if you don’t speak Japanese.
*Paid event. Advance booking is required.
Learn more and buy tickets here. (Website is Japanese only)
Workshops
One of the workshop options for 2025 will be a workshop on how to properly pair sweets with alcohol, which will be held in the Aichi Confectionary Hall. This workshop is hosted by Hata Kazunori, who is the sweets-buyer for all Takashimaya stores. Guests can learn about (and enjoy) the art of pairing different sweets with different kinds of alcohol, courtesy of several Japanese sweet shops.
*Paid event. Advance booking required.
Learn more about this event and buy tickets here (Japanese only)
Alternatively, you can participate in a Street Food Tour of Osu. Book your tour today!
One thing that you need to know before attending any event is that almost all these events are in Japanese language. The traditional language can be hard to understand, even for Japanese people! But some events like street kabuki, noh, or kyōgen are fun even without understanding Japanese.
With the Yattokame Cultural Festival DOORS, you will probably find a new way to discover and enjoy Nagoya.
Yattokame Cultural Festival DOORS (やっとかめ文化祭DOORS)
Date: October, 10th to November 16th, 2025
Location: Various locations in central Nagoya
💻 Website
This post was updated in September 2025.
Although we strive to provide you with the most accurate and up-to-date information possible, please note that changes may occur nonetheless. We recommend that you confirm any relevant information such as event cancellations or changes, opening hours, or possible restrictions, using a direct source. Please keep in mind that these sources might be in Japanese only.
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