Archers and Sakura

#cherryblossom2024 The Feast of Horse Archers A rider in a samurai hunting costume rides a horse, holding a tight bow in his hands. He has only a few seconds to hit three consecutive targets with arrows. Whenever an arrow hits its target with a thud, the audience explodes with cheers. All this is part of a celebration dedicated to the amazing art of horse archery — yabusame. How to get there Free buses run from Tsuwano Station to Nagomi Roadside Station. There is a bustling fair with lots of stalls with street food, music and dancing. The artists perform traditional kagura dances dedicated to Shinto deities. It is just a few minutes' walk from the Wasibar Hachimangu Temple. When to arrive The Yabusame Festival in Tsuwano takes place annually on the second Sunday of April. In addition, a rehearsal is being held the day before, on Saturday. An ancient battle ritual Yabusame appeared in the XII century. It is both a martial art and a Shinto ritual for the entertainment of the gods. Usually the competition is held in temples. However, here in Tsuwano, in the remote mountains of Shimane Prefecture, there is the only surviving shooting range designed specifically for yabusame. Stone-lined embankments stretch along the sides of a long oblong field. Pines and cherries are planted along them in a continuous alley. The festival takes place just when sakura is in full bloom. The sacrament Come early, before the competition starts. Admire the bright banners and flags in the wind. Feel the festive atmosphere of the festival — this morning the square in front of the temple resembles a buzzing beehive. Horses are cleaned, combed and equipped, archers prepare for competition and check weapons, and all these are ancient rituals. Many people are involved in the preparation of the sacred celebration. Priestesses, priests, servants, horsemen, all young and old are dressed in bright historical costumes. This makes the spectacle truly unforgettable. In the temple Take the time to explore the unusual temple buildings with thatched roofs. Go to the second, small temple behind the main building and look inside. There you will see a variety of dolls and figurines left by parishioners.