Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival
Near: Fukuoka (Event is Free)
Event Date(s):
Jun. 30, 2024 • Jul. 1, 2024 • Jul. 2, 2024 • Jul. 3, 2024 • Jul. 4, 2024 • Feb. 4, 2025 • Jul. 6, 2024 • Jul. 7, 2024 • Jul. 8, 2024 • Jul. 9, 2024 • Jul. 10, 2024 • Jul. 11, 2024
(First half of July, about 2 weeks long)
Dates are subject to change without notice. Check with the official organizers before making travel arrangements.
The Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival (博多祇園山笠) is a long festival that ends in a climax of racing portable shrines around Fukuoka City. The "main" staging zone is Kushida Shrine (櫛田神社) but there are parts of the event all around the city. Its a large festival in which over 1 million people are said to watch every year. From July 1st to the 10th, the floats are displayed on city corners. Some are almost 10 meters high! On the 15th early in the morning the race begins. It is a content to see which group of men can race their portable shrine (Mikoshi) the fastest along a 5km route. Speed is an important factor but judges also take into consideration the "style" and or gracefullness of how they carry the shrine. The race can get very heated and exciting!
Hakata-ku, Tokyo 812-0026 Japan
