About this event
This is a traditional event held every year on the first Sunday of April at Hie Shrine in Ono Sawabe Tojoji Iriaichi, Tsuchiura City. It is a Prefectural Designated Intangible Folk Cultural Property and is counted as one of the Three Great Sanno Yabusame Festivals of Japan. Based on a Muromachi period legend that a local lord and a master archer defeated a giant monkey that harmed villagers, this festival is known as a rare Yabusame archery ritual with a narrative background. Praying for bountiful crops and regional peace, warriors in armor and helmets shooting whistling arrows from horseback at targets depicting monkeys captivate many spectators with their brave spectacle. The dignified festival carrying on tradition conveys a strong sense of history and tradition among the numerous events held in the rich natural environment of Tsuchiura.
Official website (Japanese) ↗Venue
Hie Shrine
127-1 Ono, Tsuchiura, Ibaraki 300-4108
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