Oga Shinzan Folklore Museum

(Translated by Google) Located next to the Namahage Museum, this facility offers a live reenactment of the New Year's Eve Namahage event held in the Mayama district. Admission is ¥770, or ¥1,100 if you combine it with the Namahage Museum (¥660). The performance is held in a 120-year-old, typical curved-roof house from the Oga region, so the atmosphere is already there from the exterior alone. During the cold season from December to March, there are only six performances every hour from 9:30am to 3:30pm, but at other times there are 13 performances every 30 minutes from 9am to 4:30pm. Each performance lasts about 20 minutes. There was still some time before the performance started, so I waited nearby. When the time approached, someone called out, and I lined up, handed in my ticket, took off my shoes, and went inside. There was an explanation before it started, and photos and videos were allowed. Originally a folk event only visible to locals on New Year's Eve, the Namahage customs were opened to the public to allow them to experience and understand them, and so the atmosphere was very tolerant. The Namahage Mondial is performed in a variety of dialects, but the pamphlet given to us before the event explains it all, so you can get a sense of what they're saying. The loud sounds of the Namahage knocking on doors and groans, and their sudden appearances as if they're asking, "Where did they come from?", are a bit startling, but I enjoyed the whole experience. The straw that falls from the Namahage's kede is considered sacred and is said to be a talisman for good health, so we gratefully picked it up after it was over. (Original) なまはげ館隣にある真山地区で行われている大みそかのなまはげ行事の再現が生実演で見られる施設。 入館料は￥770。なまはげ館（￥660）とセットだと¥1,100。 築120年という男鹿地方の典型的な曲屋民家での実演とあって、外観からすでに雰囲気満載。 12～3月の寒い時期は9時半～15時半の1時間おき6回のみですが、それ以外の時期は9時～16時半まで30分おきに13回実演されています。所要時間は20分ほど。 実演時間まで少し時間があったので付近で待機。時間近くなったら声がかかり、並んでチケットを渡し、靴を脱いで中へ。 始まる前に説明があり、写真や動画もOKとのこと。 元来は民族行事として大みそかのみ地元の人々以外には見ることが出来なかったなまはげ習俗を、広く観光客の方にも体験、理解してもおらうため開設したというだけあってその辺は寛容でした。 「なまはげ問答」は方言交じりですが、始まる前に渡されたパンフレットにひと通り書かれているので、こんな感じのことを言ってるんだな～と理解が出来ます。邪気を払うためだというなまはげが扉をたたく大きな音やうめき声、突然ここから？という感じで現れる様子はドキッとしますが、最後まで楽しく拝見することが出来ました。 なまはげのケデから落ちたワラは、神聖なものとされ、無病息災の護符だそうなので、終わった後には有難く拾って帰りました。