A traditional Matsushita event that carries on Genpei-era traditions through its bow range
Matsushita Yumi Festival
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- A Sunday close to day 3 of lunar month 3
- Location
- Bow range near the meeting place
- Area
- Mie Prefecture・Ise City(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 30 min–3 h · bullet train + connecting 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.
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Last updated
- 2026/11/14
The Matsushita Yumi Festival, passed down in Matsushita, Futami-cho, Ise City, is an event praying for the community’s safety, rooted in the Genpei-era tradition that members of the Taira clan devoted themselves to archery.
About Matsushita Yumi Festival
The Matsushita Yumi Festival is a traditional event passed down in Matsushita, Futami-cho, Ise City, and is a designated intangible folk cultural property of Ise City.
Tradition says the festival began in Juei 3 (1184), when members of the Taira clan, defeated at the Battle of Ichi-no-Tani, came to Matsushita and devoted themselves to archery in hopes of restoring their clan.
The festival carries on stories from the Genpei era, with a bow range set up near the meeting place and prayers offered for the district’s safety.
Festival highlights
A highlight is how an archery event recounting an episode from the Genpei era continues as part of Matsushita’s local culture.
A bow range is set up near the meeting place, connecting the story of people practicing archery with a present-day place of prayer.
Preparing the bow range and praying for the district’s safety are introduced as distinctive features of the Matsushita Yumi Festival.
A traditional Matsushita event that carries on Genpei-era traditions through its bow range
What to expect
The event takes place at a bow range set up near the meeting place.
Against the background of the tradition that members of the Taira clan practiced archery in Matsushita in hopes of restoring their clan, a bow range is built and prayers are offered for the district’s safety.
The available sources confirm the bow range’s setup and the prayer for safety, but do not provide details about the day’s timings or sequence of events.
Location and access
- Venue
Bow range near the meeting place
Event venue 三重県伊勢市 会所近くの弓場
This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.
Dates and season
- Season
A Sunday close to day 3 of lunar month 3
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 Mie Prefecture / Ise City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
ともいきの国 伊勢忍者キングダム
三重県伊勢市にあるテーマパーク
ゼロ距離水族館伊勢シーパラダイス
日本の水族館
マコンデ美術館
三重県伊勢市にある美術館
二見興玉神社
三重県伊勢市にある神社
伊勢神宮
日本の天照大御神を祀る最高位の神社
倭姫宮
三重県伊勢市楠部町にある神社
写真：No machine-readable author provided. N yotarou assumed (based on copyright claims). / CC BY 2.5
Photo source ·
土宮
三重県伊勢市豊川町にある神社
多賀宮
三重県伊勢市豊川町にある神社
月夜見宮
三重県伊勢市宮後にある神社
月讀宮
三重県伊勢市中村町にある神社
猿田彦神社
三重県伊勢市にある神社
皇大神宮
三重県伊勢市にある神社
Origins and History of Matsushita Yumi Festival
According to tradition, the Matsushita Yumi Festival began when members of the Taira clan, defeated at the Battle of Ichi-no-Tani in Juei 3 (1184), came to Matsushita and devoted themselves to archery in hopes of restoring their clan.
That is why it has been passed down as an event that preserves stories from the Genpei era.
In Ise City, it was designated an intangible folk cultural property in December 22, with Matsushita Ward as its tradition bearer.
Official information
You can check its designation in Ise City’s official list of folk cultural properties.
Futami’s Saijiki introduces the origins and season of the Matsushita Yumi Festival.
Matsushita Yumi Festival at a Glance
The Matsushita Yumi Festival is a designated intangible folk cultural property passed down in Matsushita, Futami-cho, Ise City.
Against the background of the tradition that members of the Taira clan practiced archery in Matsushita after the Battle of Ichi-no-Tani, a bow range is built near the meeting place and prayers are offered for the district’s safety.
It is said to be held on a Sunday close to day 3 of lunar month 3 each year, but the date and time of the 2026 festival have not been announced.
Sources and references
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/11/14
