Izumo Iwai Shrine Autumn Yabusame Festival
event
Event Dates
November 3rd (Culture Day)
The Yabusame (archery on horseback) is a Shinto ritual of the Izumo Iwai Shrine and has been passed on from over 950 years ago, making it a traditional event that still takes place today.
A boy around the age of 15 will train rigorously until the festival to perform the ceremony. Not only is the vigor and skill of the boy shooting the arrow from a horse running at full speed a sight worth seeing, but the costume is gorgeous as well!
Basic Information
10 minutes on foot from Tobu Goose Line’s “Higashi-Moro Station”
Map
Nearby spots
Izumo Iwai Shrine is the oldest shrine in the prefecture and the stage for a powerful display of horseback archery. It is designated as a national important cultural property along with the two attached building signs. According to folklore, Minamoto no Yoshiie visited the area to express his gratitude for winning an important battle in the year 1063. He also built the Hachiman shrine and prayed by performing horseback archery, which led to the present tradition. To this day, every spring and autumn, young people perform beautiful displays of archery from the back of running horses at Izumo Iwai Shrine.
Yamabuki no Sato is associated with Ota Doshan, a famous Japanese poet. In spring, about 2500 golden Kerria japonica, commonly known as Japanese rose, swaying in the spring breeze match the water mill hut, creating a tasteful atmosphere.
Doukan Omotenashi (hospitality) Plaza provides information on tourist attractions, historical sites, hiking trails, flowering information, and special products in Ogose Town. Make sure to stop by when you visit Ogose Town!
This facility, located right next to the west exit of Ogose Station, is used by many people for resting, as a rendezvous point for hiking, buying souvenirs, and snacks (rice balls, pizza, coffee, juice, etc.). You can also catch a free shuttle bus to O Park Ogose from in front of this facility.
Sakuranoyama Park has about 300 Someiyoshino cherry trees that display their full beauty as they bloom in early April. At the top of the "mountain park," there is an observation deck where you can look out over the Saitama-Shintoshin area. On the second Saturday of May every year, a big fireworks display is held.