A major spring festival in Imizu, carrying on the Ushinori-shiki and yabusame traditions
Yansamma Festival
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Every year May 4 / Once a year
- Area
- Toyama Prefecture・Imizu City(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 10 min–2 h 40 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.
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
A major spring festival at Shimomura Kamo Shrine in Imizu City, featuring traditional rites such as the Ushinori-shiki and -shiki.
About Yansamma Festival
Yansamma Festival is a major spring festival held at Shimomura Kamo Shrine in Imizu City.
Locally, it is known by the name “Yansamma,” meaning yabusame (horseback archery).
, the Shinkō-shiki, the Ushinori-shiki, and the Yabusame-shiki are performed as part of a series of sacred rites to pray for an abundant harvest.
This local festival has been passed down through generations and is also designated as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property by the prefecture.
Source: 加茂祭（5月4日） | 下村加茂神社
Festival highlights
The main highlight is the Yabusame-shiki, in which archers shoot arrows at targets from horseback.
The horse gallops along the approach, while the archer aims at a target about 5 meters high and shoots an arrow.
In the Ushinori-shiki, a young person dressed in armor rides a cow and prays for peace throughout the land and abundant harvests.
The arrows shot at the end of the festival are picked up by people as a prayer for protection from evil and good fortune.
Source: 「加茂祭」やんさんま（流鏑馬） ｜ いみず UNIQUE ｜ 射水市公式観光サイト / 射水のおまつり ｜ いみずユニーク ｜ 射水市公式観光サイト / やんさんま祭り - Wikipedia
A major spring festival in Imizu, carrying on the Ushinori-shiki and yabusame traditions
What to expect
The main festival begins with a lion dance, followed by a series of sacred rites: Sōma, the Shinkō-shiki, the Shinme-shiki, the rite at the , and the Ushinori-shiki.
After that, the Yabusame-shiki is held following the return procession, the annual festival rite, and the Kyuhen-shiki.
In the yabusame, three mounted participants gallop along the approach and perform target shooting and prescribed movements over three round trips.
Throughout the rites, visitors watch traditional practices involving prayers and horses and cows.
How to take part
This is a festival for general visitors to watch the dedication ceremonies on the grounds and along the sando, rather than take part as ritual performers.
Representatives of the carry the shishimai as they proceed, and the yabusame and bull-riding ceremony are also performed by people assigned specific roles.
The custom of picking up an arrow and taking it home is mentioned, but please watch from a safe distance and be mindful of those around you.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Kamo Shrine (630 Kamonaka-bu, Imizu City, Toyama Prefecture)
- Train and bus
From Kosugi Station on the Ainokaze Toyama Railway, take the AI on-demand bus Route Imizu to Shimomura Park Golf Course-mae, then walk about 5 minutes.
- By car
It is about 15 minutes from the Toyama-nishi IC and about 20 minutes from the Kosugi IC on the Hokuriku Expressway.
Event venue 富山県射水市 加茂神社
This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.
Dates and season
The main festival of the Yansanma Festival is held annually on May 4.
According to information from Shimomura Kamo Shrine, various rituals are held from 2 p.m.
The annual events are also described as including the eve festival on May 3 and the back festival on May 5.
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 Toyama Prefecture / Imizu City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
During the yabusame, horses race along the approach, and during the Ushinori-shiki, cows move around the , so please watch from a spot that does not obstruct the rites.
Some people pick up the arrows that are shot, so be aware of what is happening around you when approaching arrows or animals.
As these are traditional rites held on shrine grounds and along the approach, it is important to follow the instructions of staff and other people involved, and watch quietly.
Nearby attractions
射水市大島絵本館
富山県射水市にある博物館
射水市新湊博物館
富山県の博物館・美術館のスポットです。
Origins and History of Yansamma Festival
Yansamma Festival is said to date back to the founding of Shimomura Kamo Shrine, which was established after the deity was enshrined there from Kamo Shrine in Kyoto.
“Yansamma” is a local pronunciation of yabusame, and it is also said to have been introduced from the horse-racing rite at Kyoto’s Kamigamo Shrine.
The Ushinori-shiki was designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Toyama Prefecture in 1967, and the festival as a whole continues as a prefecture-designated Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
Official information
Official information is available on Shimomura Kamo Shrine’s “Kamo Festival (May 4)” page.
You can check the order of the rites, the Ushinori-shiki, the Yabusame-shiki, and the venue address.
For inquiries, contact the Kamo Shrine office.
Yansamma Festival at a Glance
Yansamma Festival is a major spring festival passed down at Shimomura Kamo Shrine in Imizu City.
Lion dances, the Ushinori-shiki, and the Yabusame-shiki, in which horses run along the approach, are performed as part of a series of sacred rites to pray for an abundant harvest.
It is also designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property by the prefecture, and offers the chance to watch traditional rites and impressive equestrian ceremonies.
Source: 射水市のイベント・祭り・神事｜射水市
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/19
Submit information or a correction Submit photos of this festival
