An autumn hono event from Sōo, where archers shoot from horseback and pray for a bountiful harvest
Yabusame at Sueyoshi Sumiyoshi Shrine
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/11/15Scheduled
- Season / frequency
- Every year
- Location
- Sumiyoshi Shrine
- Area
- Kagoshima Prefecture・Sōo City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 50 min–2 h 20 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.
- Features
- Wishes behind the festival
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Participation fee
- Free
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
at Sueyoshi Sumiyoshi Shrine, where horses gallop along the shrine approach and archers shoot at targets. Passed down as a ceremony praying for an abundant harvest, it also includes activities such as climbing an oil-coated bamboo pole in the .
About Yabusame at Sueyoshi Sumiyoshi Shrine
Yabusame at Sueyoshi Sumiyoshi Shrine is a traditional event held in autumn and dedicated to Sumiyoshi Shrine during the Toyomatsuri festival.
The sight of archers drawing their bows on horseback and shooting at targets set along the approach brings together martial traditions and prayers offered as part of a religious ceremony.
There is a tradition of predicting the following year’s harvest from the number of arrows that hit their targets, keeping Sōo’s local culture alive today.
It was designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Kagoshima Prefecture in Showa 56.
Festival highlights
The highlight is the sight of horses galloping along the 200-some-meter approach from the gate to the shrine as archers shoot arrows from horseback at 3 targets.
The archers wear attire said to depict a Kamakura-period makigari hunt, giving them an appearance that evokes ancient traditions.
Along with yabusame, the event includes a hono martial arts tournament and climbing an oil-coated bamboo pole; children scrambling up the pole also enliven the shrine grounds.
Source: 曽於市 住吉神社「流鏑馬」 | 鹿児島県神社庁
An autumn hono event from Sōo, where archers shoot from horseback and pray for a bountiful harvest
What to expect
The day begins with a ceremony offering before the kami. After the horses enter the course and participants prepare for their respective roles, the main yabusame ceremony begins.
The mounted archers make 3 runs along the approximately 260-meter approach, from the torii gate toward the shrine, shooting at 3 targets on each run.
The shrine grounds also host hono events related to yabusame, including martial arts tournaments and climbing an oil-coated bamboo pole.
How to take part
In 2026, applications are being accepted for participants to watch the yabusame.
The tour is accompanied by a guide and staff from the Sōo City Tourism Association. Comfortable walking shoes and clothing that allows ease of movement are recommended.
Participation by the public as yabusame archers or in the religious ceremonies must be checked separately from the advertised spectator tour.
You can apply to attend as a spectator in 2026 using the application email form on the information page.
The spectator recruitment notice does not state a capacity or deadline, so it’s a good idea to check whether applications are still being accepted before applying.
The spectator recruitment information does not say how to participate as a Yabusame archer.
Location and access
- Venue
Sumiyoshi Shrine
Event venue 鹿児島県曽於市 住吉神社
This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.
Dates and season
The event will be held on November 15 in 2026.
The ceremony is scheduled to begin around 1 p.m., followed by the main ceremony around 2 p.m.
The event is said to go ahead in rainy weather; visitors should bring their own rain gear if it rains.
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 Kagoshima Prefecture / Sōo City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
For spectating, choose comfortable walking shoes and clothes that allow you to move easily, making it easier to walk along the sando and spend time in the shrine grounds.
The 2026 spectator event will go ahead in rainy weather, so please bring your own rain gear if rain is forecast.
The notice says that participants will be informed whether the event is going ahead or canceled no later than 4 days before the start date, counting from the previous day.
Nearby attractions
Nearby attractions include Mecena Sumiyoshi Exchange Center (Mecena Onsen) and Sueyoshi Mukae Park.
These are options to visit alongside the festival, but please check opening status and conditions of use before visiting.
Information about Sumiyoshiyama and Ubaishi near the yabusame venue offers a chance to learn about the shrine’s history and local beliefs.
Source: 住吉神社／流鏑馬 | そおナビ｜鹿児島県曽於市観光協会公式サイト
Origins and History of Yabusame at Sueyoshi Sumiyoshi Shrine
It is unclear when yabusame first began, but records show it was already being held by the end of the Edo period.
Sumiyoshi Shrine is said to have been founded in ancient times and has long been closely connected with local faith. During the Shōnai Rebellion, for example, Shimazu Yoshihisa prayed there for victory.
Yabusame was discontinued for a time but revived in Showa 27, and was designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Kagoshima Prefecture in Showa 56.
Source: 住吉神社 | 鹿児島県神社庁
Official information
Event details and spectator tour recruitment can be found on the Sōo City Tourism Association’s official website, “Soo Navi.”
The Kagoshima Prefecture tourism website provides information about the event, its timing, venue, and cultural property designation.
The yabusame information on the Sōo City official website is also listed as a related page.
Yabusame at Sueyoshi Sumiyoshi Shrine at a Glance
Yabusame at Sueyoshi Sumiyoshi Shrine is a local traditional event centered on a hono ceremony in which archers shoot at targets from horseback, praying for an abundant harvest and peace in the nation.
The tradition’s long-established procedures are carried on in the format of horses galloping along the approximately 260-meter approach and shooting at 3 targets on 3 runs.
The event will be held on November 15 in 2026, and spectator tour recruitment and the notice that the event goes ahead in rainy weather have been announced.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/19
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