Komi’s Yabusame Ritual, passed down through galloping horses and arrows aimed at targets
Komi Hachiman Shrine Annual Festival Yabusame Ritual
The 2026 edition of Komi Hachiman Shrine Annual Festival Ritual has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/10/11Ended
- Location
- Komi Hachiman Shrine
- Area
- Shizuoka Prefecture・Kosai City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h–1 h 30 min · bullet train)Prefecture-level estimate to a main station or airport, not the venue. Airport access, check-in and onward travel are extra; remote areas and islands can take much longer.
- Last updated
- 2026/11/11
The Komi Hachiman Shrine Annual Festival Yabusame Ritual is a traditional ritual featuring archery from horseback at a gallop, followed by “Tenka Yabusame,” in which the horse is brought to a stop before the archer shoots.
About Komi Hachiman Shrine Annual Festival Yabusame Ritual
The Komi Hachiman Shrine Annual Festival Yabusame Ritual is a ritual passed down at Komi Hachiman Shrine in Komi, Kosai City.
It is designated as a Kosai City Intangible Folk Cultural Property and has been passed down to the present as one of the region’s traditional yabusame rituals.
Mounted archers perform the ritual by combining riding and archery, preserving the distinctive sequence and movements of Komi.
Festival highlights
One highlight is that the lead horse, with a darker coat, and the following horse, with a lighter coat, each have a different role.
On the return run, the archers shoot arrows at 3 targets while riding. The lead horse makes 8 round trips, and the following horse makes 7.
Finally, in “Tenka Yabusame,” the 2 horses are led up to just before the target and brought to a stop, and the archer shoots at the target.
Komi’s Yabusame Ritual, passed down through galloping horses and arrows aimed at targets
What to expect
The ritual begins with the lead horse and following horse galloping down the riding ground on the outward run.
On the return run, the archers perform yabusame by shooting arrows at 3 targets while riding. The lead horse makes 8 round trips, and the following horse makes 7.
To conclude, the 2 horses are led up to just before the target, then brought to a stop for “Tenka Yabusame,” in which the archer shoots at the target.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Komi Hachiman Shrine (122 Komi, Kosai City)
- Parking
None
Address 122 Komi, Kosai City, Shizuoka Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 Event Information (the listed dates have passed)
October 11, 2026 (Sun): The event was scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m.
Accommodation and hotels PR
Showing nearby accommodation.
Prices and availability are current at the time of retrieval. For multi-night stays, only the first night’s price is shown. Confirm the final price and directions to the venue with the booking provider. Select your dates again when using the area search link. Search area: within 3 km of Central Shizuoka Prefecture / Kosai City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
According to the 2026 event information, there is no parking at the venue.
Origins and History of Komi Hachiman Shrine Annual Festival Yabusame Ritual
Yabusame rituals in Kosai City have gradually evolved differently in each area, preserving their own distinctive features and continuing to this day.
The Komi Hachiman Shrine Annual Festival Yabusame Ritual is one such example and is designated as a Kosai City Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
The date it began and the specific circumstances of its establishment are not documented, but movements such as those involving the lead and following horses, and Tenka Yabusame, have been passed down.
Official information
Kosai City, “About the Yabusame Rituals of Kosai City”
Komi Hachiman Shrine Annual Festival Yabusame Ritual at a Glance
The Komi Hachiman Shrine Annual Festival Yabusame Ritual is designated as a Kosai City Intangible Folk Cultural Property and has been passed down in Komi, Kosai City.
The lead and following horses make round trips, shooting arrows at 3 targets while riding on the return run. The number of round trips also differs between the horses.
A highlight is the distinctive sequence of Komi, ending with Tenka Yabusame, in which the horse is brought to a stop before the archer shoots at the target.
Sources and references
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/11/11
