Asakusa Yabusame
Asakusa Yabusame is a horseback archery performance that started as a New Year’s tradition at Asakusa Shrine during the Edo period (1603-1867). The spectacular event was revived in 1983 and now takes place every spring with plenty of pomp and circumstance.
The day starts out with kusajishi archery from 11.45am at Sanyabori Park, where men wearing formal samurai court robes and traditional headgear compete in aiming at a 110cm-tall deer-shaped target from about 20 metres away. This event is free to watch and doesn't require tickets.
Tickets for the main yabusame archery event are now available to purchase online. This show, which starts at 1pm at Taito Municipal Sumida Park, features mounted archers in traditional samurai hunting costumes aiming at targets while doing their best to stay in the saddle.
Tickets for the yabusame display cost ¥3,000 per seat. Check the event website for more information.