The Namahage Museum (なまはげ館) on the Oga Peninsula was established in 1999 as a dedicated interpretive center to preserve, document, and illustrate the distinctive Namahage visiting-deity tradition of its native land.  Additionally, it has also served as a year-round cultural and tourism hub for the peninsula in both historic and modern times. 

Housed adjacent to the Oga Shinzan Folklore Museum (a reconstructed early 20th-century local farmhouse used for live re-enactments), the Namahage Museum combines archival displays, a short documentary film, and immersive exhibits so visitors can study both regional variations of masks and the ritual’s social implications. Its principal permanent display, the “Namahage seizoroi” (line-up), presents more than a hundred and fifty masks and straw costumes sourced from districts across the peninsula, allowing comparative analysis of local stylistic differences and material culture. These resources serve three linked aims: to conserve and catalogue material culture (masks, tools, and garments); to interpret and contextualize ritual meanings for non-local audiences; and to support local efforts at safeguarding the practice as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property recognized by Japanese cultural authorities. The museum also historically (and continues to) participated in outreach and training programs that help younger community members learn the ritual’s techniques and dialect texts outside the compressed season of New Year’s events.

The Namahage Museum’s architecture reflects regional materials and atmosphere. Its exterior walls are constructed from locally quarried Oga stone (a dark, coarse volcanic rock), providing a sense of permanence and connection to the peninsula’s landscape. Inside, abundant use of Akita cedar timber creates a warm, authentic environment that complements the displays and reflects traditional local craftsmanship. The museum’s collections and halls are organized to guide visitors from foundational knowledge to immersive experience:

• Namahage Seizoroi Exhibit: This is the centerpiece of the museum. More than 150 masks and costumes used in actual Namahage performances across many hamlets (approximately 60 districts) are exhibited. Each mask reflects a unique stylistic variation depending on local community traditions, demonstrating the rich diversity within the Namahage practice.

• Shinpi Hall (Oga Room): A cultural vignette that introduces the natural and cultural context of the Oga Peninsula. This is the birthplace and sustaining landscape of the Namahage tradition.

• Namahage Densho Hall (Legend Theater): A dedicated film theatre screens a documentary, typically An Evening with the Namahage, illustrating scenes of real New Year’s Eve Namahage visits and providing insight into local life and ritual meaning.

• Special Exhibitions Corner: Rotating displays compare Namahage materials with similar folk events within Akita Prefecture and beyond, highlighting broader contexts of seasonal rituals.

The museum also highlights the ongoing tradition of mask making. A resident mask carver (currently Senshu Ishikawa) occasionally demonstrates the artisanal process of hand-carving Namahage masks on site. This emphasizes that Namahage culture is not merely historical but also a living craft tradition with continued relevance in community life.

Venla Klasila has been my travel partner for all my culturally enriching adventures in Japan. However, the Namahage Museum was a spiritual experience that we are both bound to never forget. Here is what my partner had to say when asked about her experience after touring the mythical world of the Namahage deities: 

"When you actually see hundreds upon hundreds of Namahage masks and costumes in person, you begin to understand how deeply religion, mythology, and everyday life are intertwined in Oga Peninsula and in the Japanese culture, holistically. Even though the museum receives huge numbers of tourists every year, it is not just a tourist attraction. People still come here to pray, cleanse themselves from evil spirits, and donate money to preserve their long-lasting ancestral traditions. At Namahage Museum - in the Oga Peninsula - the past and the present exist side by side!" - Venla Klasila

Mizukuzawa, Kitaura Shinzan, Oga, Akita, 010-0685, Japan.

Telephone Number: +81-185-22-5050 

FAX: +81-185-22-5080 

Opening time(s): Monday - Sunday (8:30 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.)