Hakata Gion Yamakasa

Hakata Gion Yamakasa is a prestigious UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage festival held annually in Fukuoka’s Hakata district, centered around the Kushida Shrine. Dating over 700 years, the event involves seven local neighborhoods competing to transport massive, elaborately decorated floats called Yamakasa through the city. While it originated as a ritual to ward off plague, it has evolved into a thrilling community display of speed and precise teamwork.

​The most famous attraction is the Oiyama (The Grand Race) on the final morning, July 15th, where teams run a challenging 5-kilometer course with their one-ton Kakiyama (racing floats) in a high-speed time trial, starting sharply at 4:59 a.m. Additionally, towering decorative floats, known as Kazariyama, are displayed across the city for public viewing. These static artistic masterpieces feature intricate dolls and historical scenes.