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Festival · Fukuoka · Kyushu

Hakata Gion Yamakasa

博多祇園山笠

Teams parade towering floats through Fukuoka in this seven-century-old festival, competing to navigate the course fastest while traditional music and crowds fill the streets.

Hakata Gion Yamakasa
Hakata Gion Yamakasa © Pontafon, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Dates
1–15 Jul 2027Every year
Links
Official websiteJapanese
Venue
Kushida Shrine1-41, Kamikawabatamachi, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka
〒 812-0026How to get there
Nearest stationKushida Shrine Station
櫛田神社前4 min walk from the station
Nearest bus stopキャナルシティ博多前2 min walk from the bus stop
More about this place

The Hakata Gion Yamakasa is an annual festival held in Fukuoka with a history spanning over 700 years, takes place from July 1st to 15th in the Hakata district. During the festival, teams of men called "kasaboko" carry large floats called "yamakasa" through the streets of Hakata. These floats, often reaching heights of up to 10 meters, are decorated with intricate carvings and colourful paintings, and are often accompanied by traditional music and dance performances.

In addition to watching the yamakasa parades, festival goers can also participate in a variety of other activities, such as food and craft markets, traditional games and sports, and cultural workshops. The festival culminates in a grand finale event, where the kasaboko teams compete to see who can complete the course the fastest while carrying their yamakasa.

Getting There

Map: Getting to Kushida Shrine. Legend: Kagoshima Main Line; Hakata-Minami Line; Sanyo Shinkansen; Kyushu Shinkansen; Fukuhoku Yutaka Line. Labelled stations: Kumamoto, Kurume, Chikugo-Funagoya, Kaizuka, Hakata-Minami, Fukuokakuko, Kushida Shrine, Hakata, Gion, Nakasu-Kawabata, Tenjin-Minami.

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At Hey Japan!, we strive to keep the events listed on our website as current as possible. However, event organizers may cancel events, alter schedules, or modify admission requirements without prior notice. Check official websites before attending any event.

Part ofFestivals
TagsCraftFloatFoodMarketPerformance
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