Aya Odori is one of the traditional dances that are danced during Himeshima Bon Dance Festival, which is held from August 15 to the 17 every year. It is said that Bon festival originates in Nenbutsu Odori (a Buddhist dance chanting nenbutsu) in the Kamakura period (1192-1333). The dancing site called “Bon-tsubo” is set up at every village on the island, from which dancers start the dancing parade going throughout the island. The traditional dances include Kitsune-odori (fox dance), Saruman-dayu (female dance), and Zeni-daiko (dance with percussion), to which a newly created dance is added every year. Aya Odori is danced by pairs of young men and women living in Kitaura area. A man-dancer with a green bamboo logs called “Ayadake” in his hands and dances fiercely, while a woman-dancer dances elegantly.