Sankasho – Rice Terraces, Blossoms and Kagura

Sankasho combines a striking terraced landscape with religious traditions and seasonal natural scenery. In the Torinosu area, the rice terraces stretch out in two directions, with views extending over the settlement. The landscape, shrine, temple and recurring performances each offer a different perspective to help you choose your destination.

Rice Terraces and Spring Blossoms

The Torinosu rice terraces are a striking landmark in the landscape. Their two-way layout and views over the settlement make them a clear focal point if you are first assessing Sankasho for its scenery. Terrace preservation activities are linked to exchange events involving rice planting, harvesting and nighttime Kagura. If you are interested in any of these events, check the dates and participation requirements before your trip.

Around 14,000 rhododendrons grow at Sankasho Shrine and bloom in April, along with around 300 weeping cherry trees, which also bloom in April. There are also about 300 camellias of around 150 varieties. These figures are approximate, but they still make spring a clear seasonal highlight around the shrine. The rice terraces provide a year-round contrast to the blossoms.

A weeping cherry tree on the grounds of Josenji Temple is about 300 years old and is designated a natural monument of Miyazaki Prefecture. It blooms in late March and early April each year, and is illuminated during the blooming period. The exact bloom dates vary from year to year, and details of the illumination may also change. Check both before your trip.

Shrine Traditions and Performances

The history of Josenji Temple also gives the area a cultural point of reference: it is said to have been founded in 1615. The temple’s history and its weeping cherry tree combine a historical aspect with a seasonal attraction, without making them the same focus.

Sankasho Shrine enshrines Izanaki-no-Mikoto and Izanami-no-Mikoto. Its Kagura belongs to the Takachiho Kagura tradition, also known as Iwato Kagura. The shrine’s deities and a named performance tradition are thus presented side by side. In Gokase, Ara-odori is recognized as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage and as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property designated by the Japanese government.

Two different autumn dates may be of interest when planning your trip: Gokase Ara-odori is performed on the fourth Sunday in September during the annual festival of Sankasho Shrine. In late November, the shrine holds a nighttime Kagura performance. The two events therefore fall at different points in autumn. As event schedules may change, check the dates again before your trip.

The blooming periods also differ: the weeping cherry tree at Josenji Temple blooms in late March and early April, while the blossoms mentioned at Sankasho Shrine reach their peak in April. If you want to visit Sankasho for a festival or the blossoms, plan around the event you have in mind and check the relevant dates.

Discover more destinations: Miyazaki, Saito, Kobayashi, Nichinan, Hyūga, Ebino, Nobeoka, Miyakonojo

For the broader travel overview: Miyazaki Prefecture.