Kurokami Shrine, carrying on prayers through generations; the Seven Ascents of the Three Targets across the riding ground
Kurokami Shrine Yabusame Ritual
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/10/29Scheduled
- Season / frequency
- Every year on October 29 / Every year
- Location
- Kurokami Shrine
- Area
- Saga Prefecture・Takeo City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 50 min–2 h 10 min · flight time only)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.
- Wishes behind the festival
- Last updated
- 2026/10/26
The Kurokami Shrine Ritual is an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Takeo City, said to originate in a prayer to defeat the giant serpent of Mount Kurokami. Each year, the procession around the grounds, shrine purification, and the Seven Ascents of the Three Targets are offered in conjunction with the shrine’s annual festival on October 29.
About Kurokami Shrine Yabusame Ritual
The Kurokami Shrine Yabusame Ritual is held each year in conjunction with the shrine’s annual festival on October 29.
It is said to have been offered from Eiman 1 (1165), praying for the fulfillment of a prayer to defeat the giant serpent of Mount Kurokami.
Designated as an annual event and an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Takeo City, it has been passed down in the community.
Source: 武雄市の文化財－黒髪神社の流鏑馬神事
Festival highlights
A highlight is the procession around the grounds by the archer, imperial envoy, and sacred horse following the sacred procession.
At the riding ground, shrine purification by the archer’s brush is followed by 7 rounds of mounted archery using 3 targets.
This sequence of offerings is called the “Seven Ascents of the Three Targets” and is a distinctive scene in the Yabusame ritual.
Kurokami Shrine, carrying on prayers through generations; the Seven Ascents of the Three Targets across the riding ground
What to expect
The ritual begins with the selection of the shime-moto, and the target poles are felled by early October.
This is followed by making the targets and the archer’s brush, hanging a at the shime-moto’s home, building the horse shelter, and the Babase performance ceremony, before the main event.
On the day, a festival is held at the shrine building; after the sacred procession and the procession around the grounds, the shrine purification and mounted archery follow. Targets are distributed the next day.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Kurokami Shrine, Miyano, Yamauchi-cho, Takeo City
Source: 黒髪神社の流鏑馬 | イベントカレンダー | 武雄市観光協会
Address Miyano, Yamauchi-cho, Takeo City
Dates and season
It is scheduled to take place on October 29, 2026 (Thu).
The mounted archery offering is scheduled for around 3 p.m.
The time or location may change depending on the weather and the ritual.
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 Saga Prefecture / Takeo City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
In 2026, it will be held as a ritual offering for the local ujigami deity.
As this is not a tourism event, visitors may not be accommodated and the proceedings may not run on schedule.
The time or location may change depending on the weather or the ritual, and care should be taken not to interfere with the offering when taking photographs.
Nearby attractions
御船山楽園
佐賀県武雄市にある庭園
慧洲園
佐賀県の公園・庭園のスポットです。
武雄市図書館・歴史資料館
佐賀県武雄市の文化施設
陽光美術館
佐賀県の博物館・美術館のスポットです。
Origins and History of Kurokami Shrine Yabusame Ritual
The Kurokami Shrine Yabusame Ritual is said to have been offered from Eiman 1 (1165) to pray for the fulfillment of a prayer to defeat the giant serpent of Mount Kurokami.
It is currently designated as an annual event and an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Takeo City.
The events are passed down as a connected sequence, from preparations such as felling the target poles and making the targets, through the main event, to the distribution of targets the following day.
Official information
The event announcement is listed on the Takeo City Tourism Association’s event calendar.
The guide also includes a reference link to the official Kurokami Shrine website.
Kurokami Shrine Yabusame Ritual at a Glance
The Kurokami Shrine Yabusame Ritual is an important folk event in Takeo City, offered in conjunction with the shrine’s annual festival on October 29 each year.
After preparations such as felling the target poles and making the targets, the ritual proceeds to the procession around the grounds, shrine purification, and the Seven Ascents of the Three Targets.
It is said to originate in the fulfillment of a prayer to defeat the giant serpent of Mount Kurokami, and has been passed down along with the distribution of targets the following day.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/26
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