If you are around Kyoto and love horse events, this could be a great event for you! You can enjoy watching horse riding as well as a traditional Japanese culture event all at once.
Every year in early May, witness the Yabusame Shinji at Shimogamo Shrine, where Japanese mounted archers fire arrows at enemy targets. It is held as a ceremony before Aoi Matsuri, or Hollyhock Festival, on May 15th.
Riding Japanese mounted archers wearing traditional costume ride horses along the 500m long horse-track and successively shoot three enemy targets that are over 100m away. Successfully hitting a target brings good luck. The ceremony event is held to ensure successful and peaceful Aoi Matsuri.
Tourists can enjoy the old traditional Japanese culture when seeing these men wearing traditional Japanese archers' costumes.
