From all of us at TOKARA, we would like to thank you for your interest in coming to join us
in Japan for the “Experience the Narita Taiko Festival with TOKARA” event.
We know that you are going to have a great time while here.
This page is to give all of the necessary information you will need while here during the course. Please read carefully.
If afterwards you have any questions, please contact us.
BASIC INFORMATION and SCHEDULE
The Narita Taiko Festival is currently the largest taiko festival in the world with close to 1,500
taiko performers, both professional and amateur, participating in the opening ceremonies at Naritasan Shinshoji Temple
and group performances throughout the area of Omote Sando Street.
Over two days, audiences numbering over 200,000 spectators come together to watch the morning “Sengan Hana Daiko” ceremonies,
the street concerts, and the taiko parade as well as the curated Saturday evening concert.
This course is a very unique creation at the festival by Tokara where participants from various countries from outside of Japan
will join as one group to perform together in the opening ceremonies.
Participants will train with Tokara for one week
to learn the piece which will be performed at the ceremonies.
Training times during the weekdays are from 10:00am - 1:30pm.
There may also be time to learn extra drills, etc. during these days.
Participants will depart Friday, or early Saturday morning with TOKARA members or separately to travel to Narita City.
On Saturday, all participants help to prepare drums and equipment for the opening ceremony performance. Rehearsals and performance begin
between 8:30am and 9:00am.
ARRIVAL
Participants to “Experience the Narita Taiko Festival with TOKARA” can arrive to Iida City, Nagano Prefecture
for the first days of training. Iida City is accessible by highway bus or JR train from any of the larger cities to which you may be flying.
We highly recommend highway bus to Iida City as it is both inexpensive and much faster than the train
For those arriving to Tokyo, you will need to take the Narita Express train or Limousine Bus from Narita Airport to
Shinjuku Station (BASUTA) – 1.5 to 2 hours. From Shinjuku Station, there is a Highway Bus that goes directly to Iida City – about four hours.
You can get off the highway bus at Iida Eki Mae (in front of Iida Station).
Most hotels in Iida City downtown are within walking distance to your hotel from Iida Station.
Click here for Bus Schedule from Shinjuku Bus Terminal (BASUTA) to bus stations in the Iida City/Achi Village area
(green square is BASUTA Terminal and purple square is Iida JR main station)
For those arriving in Nagoya and Osaka, your trip will be considerably easier.
You will need to take the train or bus to Nagoya Meitetsu Bus Terminal – about 45 minutes
(from Osaka, highway bus or Shinkansen from Shin Osaka Station is easiest). From there, the direct bus to Iida City.
Access information at the Narita Taiko Festival:
1 minute from JR/Keisei Narita station to Naritasan Omote Sando Street.
10 minutes from JR/Keisei Narita station to Naritasan Shinshoji Temple.
Map of sites during the festival: https://goo.gl/Vk6LJ7
ACCOMMODATION
Please note - Accommodation in Iida City during training is not included in your course fee, unless pre-arranged with us.
Therefore, we suggest that if you have not already done so, please confirm
your accommodation arrangements as soon as possible. Each morning for training, if you do not have a rental car, it is possible to take a
local bus to the training space.
Here is a short list of hotel recommendations close to the training studio:
Silk Hotel
Super Hotel
**Owners are fluent in English:
Cider Barn
A bit farther away, but highly recommended:
Misaka Ryokan
**Please note that you will need to secure your own transportation each day.
COURSE FEE
The course fee is included in your payment for Tokara Bootcamp in 2025..
Please note: Only participants to the Tokara Bootcamp are able to participate in this course.
Fee Covers:
1. Training in Iida City.
2. Accommodation Fees in Narita for two nights (Friday and Saturday nights).
***Please note this may not be available for late registrants***
Fee does not cover:
1. Accommodation in Iida during training (Sunday-Thursday nights).
2. Food (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
3. Transportation between Iida and Narita.
Payment is via paypal invoice which is sent directly to the email address you use to register.
(paypal payments can be paid with credit card as well as through paypal account)
**If you wish to pay via International Bank Transfer, this is possible.
However, in this case, international bank transfer fees are not included in the course**
You will be notified by email immediately after course fee has been received.
For any reason, if a reservation cancellation by the participant is necessary, full course fee
minus Narita accommodation and transfer fees can be refunded until February 5th.
After February 5th, course fee cannot be refunded.
If the course is cancelled by TOKARA for any reason, full course fee can be refunded.
Please note the following:
- In case of non-participation (for example, if participants are not chosen by the festival to participate in the opening ceremony performances)
or in case of cancellation of the opening ceremony performance because of rain, etc., all other parts of the "Experience Narita Taiko
Festival with Tokara" will continue as planned, including training.
- Because of the number of participants and visitors during this period, hotels usually fill up
even three months or earlier before the festival. We are able to book your Narita hotel only after receiving course fee from you.
If we do not receive your course fee by February 5th, we will no longer be able to book your hotel room in Narita City.
WHAT TO WEAR IN NARITA
During the performances, all group members usually wear their groups happi coat or other costume.
Therefore, it would be best for all participants to the “Experience the Narita Taiko Festival” to wear as close to the same costume as possible.
Please make sure to have black-only trousers with black tabi or shoes available. If you would like tabi but do not have any, there is a festival-goods
shop close by to the training venue in Iida where it may be possible to find some. However, the size is only up to 27cm or 28cm at the largest.
Also, please prepare a black-only T-shirt and tank-top.
There is the possibility of ordering a happi coat for this event which will cost between 4000yen - 6000yen per person. This is the preferred method as it will fit
the festival perfectly. There is also the possibility of a uniform T-shirt which would cost between 1500yen - 3000yen per person.
Because it takes at least two months to prepare happi or T-shirt, we would need to decide and order as soon as possible participants happi,
one uniform T-shirt or all black only as described above.
MEDICAL
It is highly recommended that you purchase some type of travel insurance when traveling
abroad to any country. Japan is a very safe country for travel and chances are that you will not have any reason to
use any medical services here. However, as in any country, it is important to have financial protection just in case of
becoming ill or having an accident.
Japan’s medical services are considered as some of the best in the world, and the staff are kind and helpful.
However, in case of needing even a short hospital stay due to any sudden illness, medical services in Japan
can become very expensive.
REQUIREMENTS OF ALL PARTICIPANTS
The Narita Taiko Festival is a massive gathering of taiko drummers from all over Japan, as well as performers from other countries.
Therefore, it requires massive organization and help by all participants in order to keep the festival running smoothly over the full weekend.
In order to comply with the festival, please make sure to read and fully comply with all of the following:
1. Please be always nearby to help with drum movement between cars and playing areas. If you need or wish to go somewhere,
please clearly communicate with TOKARA members to confirm your location and to be sure the timing is appropriate in case of sightseeing.
2. As a requirement for any accepted groups and performers, all participants must participate in both morning ceremony performances (Saturday morning and Sunday morning).
3. Punctuality is paramount to a smooth and successful participation. Please make sure that any noted departure times, break times, performance start times, etc.
are strictly adhered to. (Remember, this is the country where high-speed train conductors receive nationwide negative news for being 8 seconds late to arrive or depart a station)
4. Please leave any luggage at your hotel that will not be used directly for the festival. We will need to focus on drum movement for the ceremonies, and TOKARA
members will also need to perform on stages which are far away from the transportation vehicles. If you choose to keep luggage in a vehicle, please understand
that you will not be able to access your luggage in the vehicles until the end of the day.
WHAT TO BRING
As most participants to this event are already members of a taiko group,
most will know what to bring. However, just to clarify for all participants:
Each participant will need at least one pair of bachi.
If possible, at least one pair of each style such as:
1. Regular size for tachiuchi (upright)
2. Large for Odaiko and/or Yokomenuchi (sideways)
3. Short/thick for Suwariuchi (sitting)
If you do not have any bachi, you can order a pair of regular size bachi for 2800yen and they will be ready and payable upon your arrival.
Ordering extra bachi to bring back home with you after the course is possible. Please contact us at least one month before arrival
to pre-order extra bachi.
During training, please wear something that is not too tight fitting. Loose, comfortable clothes are best.
Shoes, as long as they are clean, are ok to wear during training.
You will sweat! So, please bring a dry towel each day to wipe any excess sweat. Please bring at least two change of
shirts and bring at least one to two liters of something to drink each day.
**Masks are easily purchased at any shop or convenience store in Japan. Please make sure to bring masks with you at all
times during your stay in Japan as most of the population wear masks daily to prevent the spread of any virus.
If you wish, you do not need to wear masks while training on the stage, but we do ask to wear masks during breaks and other times
off stage.
Instructors will wear masks during training as well as at all other times**
Please feel free to ask anytime about any questions or concerns you may have.
DEPARTURE AFTER THE FESTIVAL
Once the festival is finished, all participants to the “Experience the Narita Festival with TOKARA” are free to plan their own way.
As many participants will arrive to and depart from Narita / Haneda Airports or wish to have extra travel around Japan,
it will not be necessary to travel back to Iida City.
**Please make sure to let us know before the festival weekend whether you plan to return to Iida with us or make your own way from Narita.
We wouldn't want to accidentally leave anyone behind.
WHAT ELSE TO EXPECT
- Each year, interest in Tokara’s Taiko Courses and the participants coming from around the globe has
grown in the nearby communities. Newspaper writers, Television and Radio personalities often show up with
little preparation time. This type of information lets Japanese people in a rural area who have little to
no experience with foreign cultures see people from other countries studying a Japanese art, and brings a
sense of mutual interest. If you do not wish to participate in such media event, please let us know.
Also, there may be pictures taken by the official photographer during the workshop.
If you do not wish your picture to be taken, please let us know.
- If you wish to take your own photos during the workshop time, please make sure to get permission from the
whole group of participants as well as from the instructors. Upon receiving permission, please do not ask
other participants to pose during workshop time. Please limit your photo time during workshop time.
- While we are happy to try to help with emergency details, please understand that members of Tokara are
unable to reserve or confirm travel details which are not related to the course.
Please make sure give yourself enough time to properly research your own travel arrangements for your time in
Japan before and after the course.
-
Map for Hotels, Theaters
and other necessary information during your stay in Iida.
Iida Tourism Website(includes information on access to Iida from all over Japan.
We very much look forward to your arrival.
The festival promises to be an immensely joyous experience.
If you have any questions at all, please feel free at anytime to contact us:
TOKARA
3598 Misajiro, Iida-City, Nagano Prefecture, Japan Postcode:395-0826
TEL/FAX: (81)265-59-8768
Email: wadaiko.tokara.japan@gmail.com
URL: www.tokara.net
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