Matsuri Guide

Name in Japanese and English

• 鞍馬竹伐り会式（くらま たけきりえしき）
• Kurama Takekiri Eshiki (bamboo-cutting ceremony)

History

The Kurama Takekiri Eshiki（鞍馬竹伐り会式）is a spectacular ceremony held at Kurama-dera（鞍馬寺, Kurama-dera）in the mountains north of Kyōto. Regarded as one of the city’s oldest rites (often presented as being over 1,000 years old), it combines prayer, gratitude toward water, and divination for the coming harvest.

Temple tradition links the rite to an old story involving Bu’en Shōnin（峯延上人, Bu’en shōnin) and the appearance of a giant serpent. The ceremony symbolically reenacts this episode by pitting “warrior monks” against the bamboo, treated as an incarnation of the serpent. There is also a protective dimension, associated with Kurama’s “sacred well/water source,” and with a tutelary figure sometimes mentioned in local tradition as Akai Gohō Zenjin（閼伽井護法善神）.

Over time, the ritual took on a clearly competitive format: two teams, Ōmi-za（近江座）and Tanba-za（丹波座）, compete to cut the bamboo as quickly as possible, and the outcome is read as an omen for the year. This highly codified staging explains why Takekiri Eshiki has become a popular event for visitors while remaining, at its core, a religious rite.

Location and date of the event

• Location: 鞍馬寺（Kurama-dera）– generally in front of the 本殿金堂（ほんでんこんどう, honden kondō).
• Address: 〒601-1111 京都府京都市左京区鞍馬本町1074（1074 Kurama Honmachi, Sakyō-ku, Kyōto）.
• Access: Eizan Railway to 鞍馬駅（くらまえき, Kurama-eki), then about a 3 to 5 min walk to the gate (仁王門（におうもん, niōmon）). To reach the main hall, allow ~30 min uphill on foot, or take the ケーブル（kēburu, “funicular”) for ~2 min, then walk ~10 min.
• Date: June 20 (every year), around 2 p.m. (often lasts about ~1 hour).

Program

Takekiri Eshiki takes place on a single afternoon and combines devotion, ritual music, and action. People attend for the intensity of the scene: large green bamboo stalks, a tightly packed crowd, and participants in attire evoking 僧兵（そうへい, sōhei), wielding long blades.

The rite opens with preparatory sequences and formalized bows. Among the moments cited in traditional descriptions: shichidohan no otsukai（七度半の御使, “ritual back-and-forth runs”), followed by take narashi（竹ならし, “standardizing the bamboo conditions”). Then comes the heart of the event: shōbu-giri（勝負伐り）, where Ōmi-za（近江座）and Tanba-za（丹波座） vie with power and precision.

The bamboo, typically very thick and long, is treated as a symbolic “serpent”: it is struck, notched, then cut into several sections amid shouts, synchronized movements, and competitive tension. The result is read as an omen for the season, while remaining an offering marked by gratitude toward water and prayers for protection.

Practical advice

Photos

The best moment is the “competition” phase (shōbu-giri（勝負伐り)): things move fast, so pre-focus and shoot in bursts. Stand at an angle to capture flying bamboo chips and the dynamics of the movements. If you’re close to the action, protect your gear: bamboo, dust, humidity… things can fly. A telephoto lens is comfortable if the area is crowded.

Weather

On June 20, Kyōto is often in a hot and humid period (rainy season possible). Wear breathable clothing, bring water, and choose a rain solution (poncho) that keeps your hands free. In the mountains, conditions can change quickly: a light windbreaker can help.

Transport

The simplest option is to come by train (Eizan) to Kurama-eki（鞍馬駅）. Roads are narrow, and on some days there are constraints for large vehicles in the Kurama/Kibune area, so if you’re coming in a group, check bus conditions in advance. To keep things stress-free, arrive early and allow a buffer before 2 p.m.

Visitor tips

If you want a good spot, head up before the start time and find where the crowd’s natural “line” forms. Bonus: walking up also gives you great forest atmosphere. Useful phrase: 「どこで見られますか？」（どこで みられますか, doko de miraremasu ka? “Where can we watch?”).

What to bring

Cash (fees/participation), water, towel, poncho, power bank, and good shoes (uphill walk). For your camera: a small rain bag/cover.

Sources & References

• 鞍馬寺（公式）: 年中行事（竹伐り会式<6月20日>）

  Official temple page: overview of the rite, fixed date (June 20), and legendary origins.

• 京都観光Navi（京都市公式）: 竹伐り会式【鞍馬寺】

  Event listing (date/time, access, official link).

• 京都府観光連盟: 竹伐り会式

  Practical listing: time (14:00～), fee (reference “愛山費”), access from Kurama-eki and by bus.

• 京都市 左京区役所: 鞍馬山竹伐り会式

  Detailed description of the traditional sequence (七度半の御使, 竹ならし, 勝負伐り) and the meaning of the rite.