Shijukusho Shrine

Shijukusho Shrine was established in 984 by Tomo Kaneyuki, a forerunner to the Kimotsuki Clan. Its name means “forty-nine,” reflecting the total number of deities venerated at the shrine, which include the seven generations of celestial deities and five generations of earthly deities. Shijukusho Shrine is well known for its annual festival, the Koyama Yabusame Festival, featuring a style of traditional horseback archery of the same name. It takes place in October and dates back nearly 900 years.

In yabusame, an archer rides a galloping horse down a set stretch of land while shooting at small targets. The act is believed to appease local deities and predict upcoming harvests. Although yabusame can be traced to the Kamakura Period and is still a part of religious rituals in other places in Japan, yabusame in Koyama stands apart due to the traditions surrounding the archer. The archer changes every year and must be a boy in his second year of middle school, almost always with no horseback riding or archery experience. He is given just two months to practice before he appears in the festival. On the day of, he dons the distinctive purple hunting costume (kariginu) for the first time, as well as a hat (ayaigasa) crafted in the five Shinto colors. Some locals believe that a deity comes to reside within him while he performs the archery.

For details about attending the Koyama Yabusame Festival, visit the events page.

Open to the public.