The registration price includes 7 nights of accommodations, most lunch and dinner including a special celebratory dinner with the Nihon Taiko Matsuri performers, all of the workshop and activity fees, and participation at the festival.

Based on last year’s feedback, we have two options for housing this year! The Shuyodan is a dormitory-style facility that is minutes away by foot from Okage Yokocho. It is located within the same property that houses the workshop facilities and you will easily be able to go back to your room during the day if needed. Breakfast is not included on workshop days, but options in Okage Yokocho and surrounding area are walkable (including a conveniece store!). There will be 4 to 5 people to a room, and rooms will be split by gender with shared baths and bathrooms. Please note that there are only 2 gender options for shared bathroom and bathing spaces at the Shuyodan.

The hotel option provides private single rooms with daily breakfast, and scheduled shuttle service to/from Okage Yokocho (one in the morning, one at night). If you are participating with a partner and prefer to share a room, there is a limited number of double occupancy option available (1 queen size bed).

Transportation to/from Ise is not included. Additionally, participants staying at the Shuyodan dormitory are responsible for their own breakfast during non festival days. Breakfast can be easily found in Okage Yokocho or nearby convenience store.

The easiest way is to fly into Chubu Centrair International Airport in Nagoya and then take the train from Nagoya to Ise. You may also consider flying into Tokyo (Narita or Haneda Airport) or elsewhere in Japan if you’d like to extend your trip. Possibilities are endless!

View the Travel Guide →

This year, we are going all out bringing exciting new pieces, regional traditional art, fundamentals, and fun! Thanks to last year’s feedback, we were able to create a schedule where everyone can try every option without missing a workshop or rehearsal. KAMUI, JAMBO, and OMIYAGE will be performed at the Nihon Taiko Matsuri (performance is optional).

• KAMUI taiko, fue, and chappa workshops led by Taishi Yamabe, Yasuhiro Yoshimura, Moe Kemmoku, and Shoji Kameda
• JAMBO workshop by Kaoly Asano of GOCOO
• Owari Kagura Taiko – a traditional regional performing art from Aichi prefecture taught by Kazu Wakayama of Owari Ichiza that features a unique bachi twirl technique
• Odaiko workshops led by Taishi Yamabe
• FIGHT and POSEIDON workshop by Masataka Kobayashi of BONTEN
• OMIYAGE refinement workshop led by Shoji Kameda

Workshop selections will be available soon!

There will be several performance opportunities during the week. The main performance opportunities will be at the Nihon Taiko Matsuri on Saturday and Sunday at the end of the week. All Ise Taiko Gathering participants can perform together!

We will perform KAMUI, JAMBO, and OMIYAGE. We guarantee that everyone will be able to perform at least one piece at the festival and will likely be able to play more than one. How many pieces each participant gets to perform will depend on drum availability and stage capacity. We will do our best to include as many people as possible in each performance opportunity. Preference on which piece participants will perform will be given to those who sign up early so reserve your spot as soon as possible! Performing at the Nihon Taiko Matsuri is not a requirement for participation.

Resident taiko group of Okage Yokocho – Shinon Daiko will be leading taiko processions throughout the festival, and we are invited to join the performance of KAMUI! This is a fun, exclusive chance to play with other festival performers.

The Shinon Kansha Nihon Taiko Matsuri is one of the most prestigious Taiko Festivals in Japan. The festival takes place in the Okage Yokocho district in Ise where taiko players from all over Japan gather to showcase the results of their practice and to dedicate the sounds of their taiko drums to the Ise Grand Shrine. It is a great opportunity to see many different taiko groups across three stages and make new taiko friends!

For example, here is a link to last year’s performance roster!

Read more about the Nihon Taiko Matsuri from producer Taishi Yamabe and former Isefuku president Kazutoshi Tamamura →

The workshops will assume some taiko experience but will accommodate a wide range of taiko players from beginners to advanced. We will also be providing learning materials for the pieces beforehand for you to review if needed. If you have any questions or concerns about being at an appropriate level, feel free to reach out to us at info@kadon.com.

Our ability to accommodate food restrictions is limited. You will have the option to select the “regular menu” or the “vegan menu” for the meals included with registration. The food will feature delicious local dishes that are thoughtfully prepared with the freshest ingredients from the region.

We will be enjoying our meals together at different eateries within Okage Yokocho, a beautifully restored 3.2-acre district that features a beautiful array of architecture from the Edo and Meiji eras that will transport you back to historical Japan. We will do our best to accommodate life threatening allergies but those with severe allergies should plan on preparing their own meals. Those with any type of severe food allergies or restrictions should communicate with us in detail before the trip. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us at info@kadon.com.

We understand that things happen. If you need to cancel your registration for Ise Taiko Gathering, please refer to the refund policy below:

• Full refund less $100 processing fee until August 1, 2026
• 50% refund less $100 processing fee until August 31, 2026
• No refunds will be made for cancellations after September 1, 2026

Please contact info@kadon.com if you’d like to transfer your registration to someone else.