Hakata Gion Yamakasa is Fukuoka’s most well-known and exciting festival. If you are in Japan in July or are planning on coming to Fukuoka, I would advise timing your stay to witness this fantastic festival. With a 750-year history behind it, this influential festival is a feast for the eyes.

The celebration originates from a Buddhist priest named Shoichi Kokushi who, to defeat a plague, spread holy water in the streets. From this event, the tradition developed, and now water is splashed on participants in the streets during the festival.

Starting at sunrise (about 4:59 a.m.), this festival is not for the faint-hearted. However, preparations are visible for weeks, with the enormous kazariyama floats displayed throughout the city and men in traditional clothing being easily spotted during practices starting in July. Officially, the festival begins on the 1st of July, but the big event, the official float race, does not start until the morning of the 15th.

The main event of the festival is the race. Hundreds of men from seven districts must carry 1-ton floats (no wheels!) 5 kilometres through the streets of Gion near Hakata Station. Due to the incredible weight, the men holding the float aloft are constantly taking shifts, and thus, it forms a sea of swirling humans along the path. The men must both maintain speed and a heroic stance without showing weakness. This festival binds the community, and all ages gather for this event. You will see hundreds of children running alongside the float.

The race begins at Kushida Shrine, and if you stake out a spot, you should expect to see a float every five to ten minutes. In the street, you will hear “oisa oisa” chants whilst spectators and participants throw water to encourage the hard-working men. This is one of the most exhilarating experiences in Japan, being authentic Japanese culture.

The festival lasts eight days, during which hundreds of energetic men run around Hakata carrying floats called yamakasa. You can see the best part of the festival on the last day, oi-yamakasa—men’s teams’ race over 5 km here with a yamakasa float starting at 4:59 a.m. You will surely be overwhelmed by the dynamic way they carry the float.

The passion of Hakata residents for Hakata Gion Yamakasa is so tremendous that some companies even let participants have the day off for the festival. You can genuinely feel summer has arrived with Hakata Gion Yamakasa.

Some unique words are exclusive to this festival; carrying the floats around is ‘kaku’, and the people that carry the floats are called ‘kakite’.

Written by: Rick Coles

===============================