Wakaho is a district within Nagano city, a bit farther from the central area. In Wakaho there is Yushima Tenman-gu Shrine, nicknamed Yushima Tenjin. This shrine is not to be mistaken with the one in Tokyo.

The Wakaho Fure-ai Odori festival (若穂ふれあい祭り) started in 1970. Around this time a lot of traditional dance festivals started in Nagano prefecture. It is a quite easy dance to learn and everyone is encouraged to jump in and join the fun. The name “fure-ai” means coming together, or in this case, participation. The shrine is found quite far from the city center and is very much a local event. This gives you a chance to see more of the rural Japanese community.