Yabusame at Kinmine Shrine

The at Kinmine Shrine is a precious Nagaoka ritual said to have been offered by Minamoto no Yoshiie. As the sacred horse races along the and shoots at targets, a children’s dance and also accompany the event.

About Yabusame at Kinmine Shrine

The yabusame at Kinmine Shrine is a ritual in which riders shoot at targets while riding at a gallop.

It is unclear when the yabusame began as part of Kinmine Shrine’s grand festival, but it is said that Minamoto no Yoshiie prayed before the shrine for the defeat of the enemies of the imperial court during his campaign to subdue Oshu, and made an offering.

It is said to be found only at Kinmine Shrine and on Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture. This precious local event was designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property in Showa 46 March 29.

Festival highlights

The main highlight is the sacred horse galloping along the approximately 200-meter sando from the to the great , while the rider shoots at targets from horseback.

Cheers from the audience ring through the . After the yabusame, a children’s dance is also offered to the accompaniment of flute and hayashi.

Many wind chimes are hung around the shrine grounds during the yabusame season, letting you experience the horse’s gallop, traditional dance, and refreshing tones all at once.

Yabusame at Kinmine Shrine in Nagaoka: shooting prayers from horseback, carrying tradition forward

What to expect

The annual festival ritual begins at 2 p.m., followed by a children’s dance after the eve-of-festival ritual the previous day.

The yabusame ritual then begins at 5 p.m., with the sacred horse running along the sando from the haiden to the great torii and shooting at targets.

Flute and taiko hayashi are played around the ritual, while the horse’s movements and traditional performing arts come together to shape a unified festival.

How to take part

Visitors can watch the event.

Location and access

Venue and address: Kinmine Shrine, 2-6-19 Nishizao, Nagaoka City
Train and bus: 15 minutes by bus from the Ote-guchi exit of JR Nagaoka Station / From the bus terminal at JR Nagaoka Station (Ote-dori side), take the bus bound for Takaramachi or Ecotopia Kotobuki from stop 13 for 10 minutes, get off at “Zao,” then walk 3 minutes / 15-minute walk from JR Kita-Nagaoka Station
By car: 15 minutes by car from Nagaoka IC on the Kan-Etsu Expressway / 8 minutes by car from Nagaoka-kita IC (smart IC) on the Hokuriku Expressway
Parking: Available

Address 2-6-19 Nishizao, Nagaoka City

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Dates and season

Season: Every year on July 15
Frequency: Every year

Accommodation and hotels PR

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Photo and data sources

写真：photo: Qurren ( talk ) Taken with Canon IXY 430F (Digital IXUS 245 HS) / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Facility data source

Origins and History of Yabusame at Kinmine Shrine

The yabusame at Kinmine Shrine is said to have begun when Minamoto no Yoshiie visited Kinmine during his campaign to subdue Oshu, prayed for the defeat of the enemies of the imperial court, and made an offering.

During the Sengoku period, the Uesugi clan and others provided festival horses and guards. After the Makino clan entered Nagaoka in the Edo period, festival horses, guards, and festival floats were provided.

Since the Meiji period, the ritual has been conducted by and other worshippers. Today, it is said to be held with 3 horses on the shrine’s annual festival day, July 15.

Official information

The Nagaoka City official website’s “Yabusame at Kinmine Shrine” information provides details on the cultural property designation, date, venue, access, parking, and contact information.

Kinmine Shrine’s official website is also listed as a source for further information.