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.
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.
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