Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Grand Festival

The Tsurugaoka Hachimangū Grand Festival is the most important annual event for the city of Kamakura’s main shrine.

This historic festival, known as the Reitaisai, is held over three days in mid-September.

It is famous for its ancient and thrilling rituals that draw spectators from all over Japan and the world.

The main highlight and final event of the festival is the Yabusame Shinji, a demonstration of traditional mounted archery.

Archers dressed in the style of Kamakura-period samurai gallop on horseback down a long track, firing arrows at three targets.

The festival also includes other solemn ceremonies.

On the first day, a purification ritual is held, and on the second day, a grand parade with mikoshi, or portable shrines, takes place.

The long approach to the shrine is lined with many yatai food stalls, creating a lively and festive atmosphere throughout the event.

Event Details

• Dates
  • Sunday, September 14th – Tuesday, September 16th, 2025
• Schedule
  • Sunday, Sep 14
    • Various ceremonies are held, including a purification ritual at the beach in the morning.
  • Monday, Sep 15
    • The main annual shrine ceremony is conducted, and a large mikoshi parade is held in the afternoon.
  • Tuesday, Sep 16
    • The Yabusame mounted archery ritual takes place from 1:00pm.
• Location
  • Tsurugaoka Hachimangū Shrine, Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture.
• Admission
  • Entry to the shrine grounds and viewing the festival events is free.
  • Please note that the Yabusame event is extremely crowded, and while standing-room is free, paid seating is also available and often sells out in advance.
• Please Note
  • The schedule, especially for Yabusame, can be affected by weather.
  • It is always recommended to check official sources before attending, especially if planning to see the Yabusame.

Directions & Travel Information

• By Train
  • The shrine is a major landmark in Kamakura and is a pleasant walk from the main station.
  • Kamakura Station
    • The station is served by the JR Yokosuka Line and the JR Shōnan-Shinjuku Line.
    • It is also a terminal station for the Enoshima Electric Railway line.
    • From the station’s East Exit, it is approximately a 10 to 15-minute walk straight up the main Wakamiya Ōji street to the shrine.

Event Summary

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