【下野神楽】
  下野地区は高千穂茶の生産が盛んな地区で、世帯数７５戸の下野東集落、世帯数８５戸の下野西集落で構成されている。
  地区内には幕府御用の測量隊・伊能忠敬（いのうただたか）が宿泊した延岡藩小侍（こざむらい）・旧佐藤新四郎宅や各種の石仏など、多くの史跡文化財が大切に保存されている。
  氏神社（うじがみしゃ）の下野八幡大神社（しものはちまんだいじんじゃ）は、１１９２年に高千穂領主・高千穂太郎惟元（これもと）が勧請（かんじょう）し、高千穂政信（まさのぶ）が境内を整え社殿を建立したといわれ、境内には、那須大八郎（なすだいはちろう）が杉の穂を逆さにして挿し、戦勝祈願をしたという「逆さ杉」や、樹齢８００年の国指定天然記念物イチョウ・ケヤキ等の巨木がある。境内隣接地の八幡山鶏足寺（はちまんざんけいそくじ）跡は、住職１１７代中６４代を盲僧（もうそう）が務め、全盛期の檀家は高千穂郷内をはじめ隣接する地域まで、１０万８千軒に達していたという。
  下野には、八幡宮御記録をはじめ、御神楽立歌（１８８４）、願祝子（がんほうり）取締規則（１８９２）など貴重な神楽記録が残されている。保存会の会員数は２５名。夜神楽は１３の小組廻し当番制で、毎年１１月２２日に氏子主催として執り行われている。神楽宿は、その年の事情により民家と公民館が併用されている。

【Shimono Kagura】
Shimono district, known for its green tea production, consists of 75 households in Shimono-higashi Village and 85 households in Shimono-nishi Village.
Various stone Buddha statues and historic sites are preserved here, including the former residence of Shinshiro Sato that served as a guardhouse of Nobeoka Domain. Tadataka Inou, who was a member of the survey squad patronized by the Edo government, stayed at this residence.
It is said that Shimono Hachiman Shrine enshrines the tutelary that was transferred in 1192 by Taro Koremoto Takachiho, the lord of Takachiho. Later, the shrine precinct was organized by Masanobu Takachiho. Giant trees stand here, such as 800-year-old ginkgo and keyaki trees that are designated as natural monuments, as well as a “sakasasugi” cedar tree that is believed to have been turned upside down and planted by Daihachiro Nasu praying for victory. Adjacent to the shrine precinct, Hachimanzan Keisokuji Temple was formerly maintained by 117 Buddhist priests, of whom 64 were blind. It is said that as many as 108,000 households of the temple’s parishioners resided in Takachiho and the neighboring region.
Many important documents concerned with kagura are preserved in the Shimono District, such as “Hachimangu onkiroku” “Okagura tateuta (1884)” and “Ganhoriko torishimari kisoku (1892)”. The Kagura Preservation Association is made up of 25 performers. The Simono Night Kagura is sponsored by the parishioner of the shrine and performed on November 22nd by 13 groups in rotation. The performance is held at the community center or a private house, depending on the circumstances.