Shikkogo park

South side of Lake Kawaguchiko, a natural park nearby Fuji Omuro Sengen shrine. Yabusame (Japanese horseback archery) takes place in this park every spring. “Shikkogo" means “marsh" in Ainu. The land from the park to the lake is formed by lava flowing from Mt.Fuji. It was named “Shikokogo Park” because of its geological shape that looks like a marshland.

Asian brown flycatcher can be seen in summer, and waterbirds from the northern country can be seen in winter. Mt.Fuji looks big at the time of beautiful weather, and you can spend time on a lawn slowly. It is connected by a boardwalk to Katsuyama Koumi park from here, so you can enjoy a lakeside stroll.

This area around Sikkogo park at the entrance of the Fuji Omuro Asama Shrine is called Miyanosaki, and now there is the ruined “Kawaguchiko Yuen”. The inlet on the west side of “Kawaguchiko Yuen” is called “Shoji-BA”, and there is a legend that Yamato Takeru stopped to purify the body on the way back from the Eastern Expedition. From the place, you can look up at big Mt.Fuji over Shikkogo park.

*The Kawaguchiko Yuen and the pool have been already removed.

Katsuyama Yabusame Festival (Apr.29)

The Katsuyama Yabusame Festival is horseback archery Shinto ritual of the Fuji Omuro Sengen shrine, it dates back to the Heian period in the origin. It conveys the heroic tradition of the Warring States Period samurai and is an event with the history more than 900 years.

Horse galloping with raising the sand cloud, and the brave figure which an archer shoots an arrow toward is very excellent. It is held every year as a local festival and almost all residents participate. Depending flowering period of cherry blossoms, you can see Yabusame in full bloom or in blizzard of cherry blossom petals.

Gallery

Cherry blossom trees

Horseback archery (Apr.29)

Map