Kamakura Yabusame (Traditional Samurai Horseback Archery at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu)

Schedule: Minggu Ketiga April (Kamakura Matsuri) & 16 September 2026 (Reitaisai) | Location: Kanagawa (神奈川県)

Dating back over 830 years to 1187 when Minamoto no Yoritomo established the Kamakura shogunate and inaugurated sacred horseback archery to hone samurai discipline and pray for peace, "Yabusame" at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu is Japan’s most visceral and authentic samurai ritual. Held twice annually—during the Kamakura Matsuri finale in April and the Autumn Reitaisai in September—it represents the living martial spirit of ancient Japan. The ritual takes place along a 250-meter sand track (Baba) flanked by ancient cedar trees within the shrine grounds. Three square cedar wood targets are anchored along the gallop lane. Archers from the revered Ogasawara and Takeda archery schools appear in authentic 12th-century hunting warrior regalia: wide-brimmed woven sedge hats, deerskin chaps, a katana blade at the waist, and colossal 2-meter asymmetrical Japanese bamboo longbows (Yumi). The apex of thrills occurs when warhorses sprint at full gallop, kicking up sand. Releasing the reins and guiding the charging steed solely through thigh pressure, the warrior shouts the ancient sacred incantation "In-Yo-In-Yo!" (Yin and Yang / Cosmic Balance), nocks whistling-bulb arrows, and looses three consecutive shots into the wooden targets within a breathtaking 15 seconds! The explosive crack of cedar targets shattering into flying splinters triggers thunderous roars from the crowd. Standing spectator access along the fence line is free to the public.