Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Reitaisai in Kamakura 2026: A Historical Samurai Spectacle
The Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Reitaisai, also known as the Grand Annual Festival, is the most important annual event at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture. Steeped in over 800 years of history, it’s a genuine celebration of samurai culture and Kamakura’s heritage, dedicated to Hachiman, the patron deity of warriors.
This is why we’ve included the Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Reitaisai in our roundup of events in Japan in September.
Festival dates and schedule
Unlike many Japanese matsuri, the Reitaisai isn’t tied to a particular weekend, it falls on the same three calendar dates every year: September 14, 15, and 16. In 2026 that means the festival runs Monday through Wednesday.
September 14: Yoimiya Matsuri
The festival opens with quieter, solemn rituals, Shinto prayers and purification ceremonies that set the tone for the days ahead.
September 15: Reitaisai Honmatsuri and Mikoshi Togyo
In the morning, the main annual ceremony takes place, with prayers offered to the shrine’s deities in a ritual open to the public, alongside performances of traditional Kagura dance. In the afternoon, the mood shifts with the Mikoshi Togyo, a lively procession of sacred portable shrines carried through Kamakura by priests, musicians, and participants in traditional dress.
September 16: Yabusame Shinji (horseback archery)
This is what most visitors come for. Archers in Kamakura-period samurai armor gallop down a 250-meter course inside the shrine grounds, firing arrows at three targets spaced along the way. It’s a ritual that’s been performed for over 800 years, carried out today by the Ogasawara school of horseback archery. Get there early, the course fills up fast and the good vantage points go quickly.
Tickets and viewing costs
Admission to the shrine grounds and every part of the Reitaisai is free, including the Yabusame. Standing room along the archery course is first-come, first-served, but limited paid seating is also set up for the event and tends to sell out ahead of time if you’d rather not stand for hours. Two smaller fees apply elsewhere on the grounds: 200 yen for adults to enter the Treasure Hall, and 500 yen for the seasonal Peony Garden.
Historical significance and dedication
The festival’s roots go back over 800 years, to August 15, 1187, when Minamoto no Yoritomo, founder of the Kamakura Shogunate, established the Hojoe ceremony (a ritual release of living creatures) alongside the Yabusame archery rite. That link to Japan’s samurai past is why the Reitaisai still feels different from a typical local matsuri: it’s dedicated to Hachiman, patron deity of samurai warriors and protector first of the Minamoto clan and later of the samurai class as a whole.
Other events and atmosphere
Beyond the three main rituals, the festival keeps things lively with:
- Traditional performances: a tea ceremony held in honor of the deities, plus traditional dance throughout the grounds.
- Food stalls and crafts: yatai stalls line the approach to the shrine, serving festival classics alongside local crafts for sale.
- Cultural exhibitions: various opportunities around the shrine to dig deeper into Kamakura’s history and Shinto tradition.
Accessibility and viewing
- Location: the festival takes place across the grounds of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in central Kamakura.
- From Kamakura Station: about a 10-minute walk from the East Exit.
- From Tokyo: take the JR Shonan Shinjuku Line or JR Yokosuka Line from Shinjuku or Tokyo Station directly to Kamakura Station, roughly an hour’s ride.
The main shrine building isn’t wheelchair accessible due to stairs, but the Mai-den hall (Lower Worship Hall) is accessible for worship. Given how busy the Yabusame gets, plan to arrive well before the 1:00 PM start if you want a clear view.
If you’re drawn to Japan’s samurai history, Exoticca’s A Taste of Japan: Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka tour includes time in Tokyo, within easy reach of Kamakura by train, making it a straightforward add-on for anyone visiting in September.
