【尾狩神楽】
  高千穂町中心街から南に位置する向山地区尾狩は、尾峰（おみね）・狩底（かりぞこ）という２つの小集落で構成された、世帯数１１戸の集落である。鎮守社である山中神社は、川を隔てた対岸の日之影町乙女（おとめ）・草仏（そうふつ）集落を含む４集落１６世帯の里人が氏子となっている。山中神社の祭神は、山中坊（やまなかぼう）という修験者（しゅげんじゃ）が人神（ひとがみ）として祀られている。
  伝えでは、山中坊は隣村の秋元集落から、旧正月１３日の夜に狩底の観音堂に移り住んだが、重い病気にかかり、心配した４集落の里人が交互に飲食を運び、死水をとって往生させたという。山伏は「この集落の人々の親切は忘れない。死後、吾を祀ったら、疫病の流行から必ず私が護り、法力を以って末永く村を守るので、観音堂より床を低くして祀るが良い。参拝は観音様をまず拝すること。」と臨終のことばを残したという。山中様として祭祀されている石像は、高さ９０㎝、右手に錫杖（しゃくじょう）、左手に法螺貝を持った山伏像で、台座に１８４３年（天保１４年）卯八月と刻してある。
  尾狩神楽は黒仁田神楽と同様、日之影町岩井川系の神楽で、暴れ神楽といわれる「座張り（ざはり）」や祇園信仰の「五っ天皇（ごってんのう）」の番付のほか、平地の農神楽である田植神楽が組み込まれている。夜神楽祭は、古くは旧暦１月１３日の縁日とされていたが、現在は新暦の１月第３土曜日に行われている。夜神楽が奉納される神楽宿は狩底集落４軒の家廻しで、神楽料理賄いのために、各家の台所は土間を残し、昔ながらの竈が設けられている。神楽伝承者は１５名で、氏子数がすくないため、舞手も準備から賄いまでの全てに従事している。

【Ogari Kagura】
The Ogari Community Center consists of 11 households in two small villages, Omine and Karizoko, that are located south of downtown Takachiho. Yamanaka Shrine is dedicated to the tutelary deity of 16 households in four villages, including Otome and Sofutsu of Hinokague Town located on the other side of the river. The deity enshrined in Yamanaka Shrine is Priest Yamanaka—a buddhist ascetic, rather than usual deities of heaven and land that appear in Japanese mythology.
Legend has it that Priest Yamanaka fell seriously ill after moving to the Kannon Hall in Karizoko Village from the neighboring village of Akimoto during the night of January 13th of the lunar calendar. Concerned villagers took turns to bring meals and drinks to him and took care of him in his final moments. The priest said in his deathbed: “I have never forgotten the kindness of these villagers. After my death, if you could enshrine me somewhere lower than the Kannon Hall, I will guard your villages from epidemics by any means and protect them forever with the power of Buddhism. You have to go to worship at the Kannondo Hall first of the all.” The 90-cm tall stone statue that enshrines “Yamanakasama” is holding a priest’s cane in the right hand and a conch shell in the left hand. “In August 1843, the Year of Hare” is engraved on the pedestal of the statue.
Ogari Kagura stems from Iwaigawa Kagura of Hinokague Town, sharing lineage with Kuronita Kagura, and incorporates a variety of elements including wild kagura called “Zahari,” “Gotsutenno” of Gion faith, and rice planting dances seen in agricultural kagura. The night kagura used to be held on January 13 of the lunar calendar; however, it is currently taking place on the third Saturday of January. 4 households in Karizoko Village are in charge of the kagurayado where the night kagura is performed in yearly rotation. Traditional kitchens, characterized by earthen floors and cooking stoves, are maintained in these houses as part of the preparation for kagura performances. Ogari Kagura is sustained by 15 performers, and due to the shortage of parishioners, they attend to all matters, including pre-performance preparation to meals.