Oga: Namahage Tradition, Coast and Nature

Oga brings together several distinct attractions for travelers: Namahage culture, coastal scenery, marine life and Ishiyaki, a special way of preparing seafood. Check the specific program for the year of the festival and the current train schedule if traveling by rail.

Namahage: From Exhibits to Ritual

At the Namahage Museum, you can see more than 100 Namahage figures and over 150 Namahage masks. A dedicated area lets visitors try on Namahage outfits. This way, you encounter the tradition not only through its figures and masks, but also through the clothing associated with its portrayal.

Shinzan Shrine preserves a religious atmosphere passed down since ancient times, with cedar trees surrounding the shrine. Mount Shinzan has long been a place of pilgrimage associated with mountain worship. The Namahage Sedo Festival brings this religious tradition together with a Namahage event that began in 1964 and takes place every year on the second Friday, Saturday and Sunday in February. The three-day festival therefore falls on the weekend that includes the second Saturday in February.

On January 3, the Shinto ritual Saitousai is held at Shinzan Shrine in Kitaura, in the city of Oga. The festival links this ritual with the February event at the same shrine. If you are planning a trip specifically for the Namahage Sedo Festival, check the dates for that year's program.

Marine Life and a Tidal Coast

At GAO Aquarium in the city of Oga, you can observe a variety of marine life, learn more about it and feed fish. U no Saki Coast in the south of the Oga Peninsula offers a different view of the coast. The coastal stretch is 1.5 kilometers long; at low tide, shallow rocks are exposed and extend about 200 meters out to sea. Visitors can walk across the tidal flats or play in the shallow coastal area, and collect shellfish. If you plan these activities, be sure to consider the tides and access. Observing marine life and experiencing a coastal area shaped by the tides are two distinct options.

Grassland and Paragliding at Mount Kanpuzan

Mount Kanpuzan consists mostly of grassland. Regular controlled burning and mowing maintain its appearance. The landscape is therefore shaped by these two forms of upkeep. You can go paragliding at Mount Kanpuzan, and there is also a paragliding school in the city of Oga. The mountain thus combines a distinctive landscape with an activity for travelers interested in paragliding.

Local Cuisine, Getting There and a Garden Near the Station

Ishiyaki is a way of preparing seafood in which it is cooked in front of guests on a wood-fired stone grill at hot spring resorts and local restaurants in the city of Oga. Michi-no-Eki Oga Ogare (道の駅おが「オガーレ」), a roadside station, offers a different way to connect with local produce. It is located in the Funakawa area, at the terminus of the JR Oga Line. Local products, especially fresh seafood, are sold there; there is also a restaurant and light meal options.

Oga Station is the terminus of the JR Oga Line and the usual stop for travelers arriving in Oga. Check the current timetable when planning your journey. Saiun-an (彩雲庵), a Japanese garden near the station, opened as a new attraction in autumn 2023. The garden is closed in 2026; check access before visiting.

Discover more destinations: Daisen, Kosaka, Fujisato, Yurihonjo, Odate, Yuzawa, Kazuno, Noshiro.

See the regional travel overview: Akita Prefecture.