The Spring Festival’s archery ritual at Yasaka Shrine

Festival highlights

The highlight is the scene of a large straw rope, representing a giant serpent, being carried through the village.

The large rope is stretched across the archery range on the shrine grounds, where a target is attached before the event moves on to an archery ritual.

The distinctive structure of the festival is evident in how the rope-hanging ritual, using a large rope, is followed by archery aimed at a target as part of the same event.

A spring festival where a large rope representing a giant serpent makes its way through the village and leads to an archery ritual

What to expect

At the festival, a large rope woven from straw is first made to represent a giant serpent and carried through the village.

Next, the large rope is stretched across the archery range on the shrine grounds, and a target is attached.

Then the archery ritual is performed, with arrows shot at the target.

The order of events shows how the rope-hanging ritual and the archery ritual are linked.

Location and access

Venue and address

Yasaka Shrine (3297 Oaza Hara, Takatsuki City)

Train and bus

From the north exit of JR Takatsuki Station, take the municipal bus bound for <Hara Ohashi>, get off at “Kamimine Yamaguchi,” and walk about 10 minutes.

Address 3297 Oaza Hara, Takatsuki City

Dates and season

Season

The first Sunday of April every year

Frequency

Every year

Accommodation and hotels PR

Origins and History of The Spring Festival’s archery ritual at Yasaka Shrine

Yasaka Shrine is in the Nakamura district of Hara and enshrines Susanoo-no-Mikoto.

According to the shrine’s tradition, the festival began when Gozu Tennō was enshrined as the deity after an epidemic spread during the reign of Emperor Seiwa (second half of the 9th century).

The Spring Festival’s archery ritual combines rope-hanging and archery rituals, and records date back to Kansei 12 (1800).

In Heisei 18February, it was designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of the city.

Official information

Takatsuki City Official Website, “Yasaka Shrine”

The Spring Festival’s archery ritual at Yasaka Shrine at a Glance

The Spring Festival’s archery ritual at Yasaka Shrine is a festival in Hara, Takatsuki City, commonly known as the “Great Serpent Festival.”

A large straw rope is made to represent a giant serpent and carried through the village. At the shrine grounds’ archery range, the rope is stretched across and arrows are shot.

This cultural property combines rope-hanging and archery rituals, and records date back to Kansei 12 (1800).