The shape of it
About
The annual grand festival of Kamakura's most important shrine, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, runs over three days in mid-September. It blends solemn Shinto rites, a portable-shrine procession and traditional dance, culminating in a thrilling yabusame display of mounted samurai archery on the final day.
Highlights
- Yabusame - mounted archers in samurai armour firing at targets at full gallop
- Mikoshi (portable shrine) procession through the shrine precinct
- Centuries-old Shinto ceremonies at Kamakura's principal shrine
- Traditional dance and music performances over the three days
Plan it well
- Kamakura is about 1 hour from Tokyo on the JR Yokosuka Line; the shrine is a 10-minute walk from Kamakura Station.
- For the September 16 yabusame, line the archery range early - the prime spots fill well before the runs begin.
- Combine with a stroll down Komachi-dori and a visit to the Great Buddha at Kotoku-in.
- The Spring Kamakura Matsuri (mid-April) also features yabusame if you miss the autumn festival.
Where it happens
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