Kanto · KanagawaCultural
Kamakura’s most important shrine holds its grand autumn festival, crowned by galloping horseback archers in samurai hunting dress.
Overview
The Reitaisai is the most important annual festival of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, the great shrine at the heart of Kamakura and once the spiritual centre of Japan’s first samurai government. Spread over three days each September, it blends solemn Shinto rites with a mikoshi procession and the celebrated yabusame horseback archery.
The yabusame, performed by the Ogasawara school, recreates a martial art practised by Kamakura-era warriors.
When & Where
The 2026 festival is held from September 14 to 16, with the yabusame ritual on September 16 (a rite from around 13:00 and the mounted archery from about 14:00). Events take place within the shrine precincts.
Nearest station: JR Kamakura Station.
Getting There
Kamakura is under an hour from Tokyo on the JR Yokosuka Line. From Kamakura Station it is about a 10-minute walk up the Wakamiya-oji avenue to the shrine. The yabusame draws large crowds, so arrive early to line the archery track.
What to Expect
Archers in full samurai hunting costume gallop down a straight track and loose arrows at three wooden targets in succession, a difficult feat that earns roars from the crowd when a target shatters. The wider festival includes formal shrine ceremonies and a portable-shrine procession through the town.
Tickets & Access
Admission is free. Viewing spots along the yabusame track fill quickly, so position is everything on the archery day.
Tips for Visitors
For the yabusame on September 16, arrive well before the early-afternoon start to secure a place along the track. Combine the visit with Kamakura’s temples and the Great Buddha; the town is compact and walkable.
Access and Map
| Dates | September 14–16, 2026 (yabusame on Sept 16) |
|---|---|
| Venue | Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, 2-1-31 Yukinoshita, Kamakura, Kanagawa |
| Access | ~10 min walk from JR Kamakura Station (Yokosuka Line) |
| Admission | Free |
| Official site | Tsurugaoka Hachimangu (official) |
Source: Tsurugaoka Hachimangu (official)
Image: Photo: Kazunori Matsuo from Tokyo, Japan / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)
