Shrine Maidens Perform Sacred Maple Leaf Dance

Nov 15, 2026 | News On Japan

Wakayama - Two shrine maidens performed an elegant dance holding branches of red maple leaves in front of Nachi Falls at the World Heritage-listed Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, on November 14, as part of an annual autumn festival expressing gratitude for the blessings of nature.

The Momiji Matsuri, or Autumn Leaves Festival, took place against the backdrop of the sacred Nachi Falls, which is revered as the shrine's divine embodiment. The two shrine maidens gracefully performed the traditional ceremonial dance while holding maple branches, marking the autumn season with a solemn ritual.

Large crowds of worshippers and visitors, including foreign tourists, gathered to watch the sacred ceremony, which celebrated the changing seasons and the natural beauty surrounding one of Japan's most revered World Heritage sites.

Source: Kyodo

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