From July 1st to July 15th every year, the streets of Hakata Ward, Fukuoka City are filled with festival colors. Hakata Gion Yamakasa is a summer festival dedicated to Kushida Jinja Shrine. It has a history of about 780 years, and was registered as one of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage "Yama, Hoko, and Yatai Festivals" in 2016.
🏃 15日間の流れ
There are two main types of Yamakasa: Kazariyama (the decorative floats) and Kakiyamagasa (the carried floats). are giant doll decorations that reach 10 to 15 meters in height and will be set up at 14 locations in Hakata City starting July 1st. It is an exhibit that tourists can see up close, and is placed in major locations such as Hakata Station and Tenjin.
On the other hand, the Kakiyamagasa is a Yamakasa that is actually carried and run by men. Men wearing shimekomi (traditional loincloths) and happi (festival coats) take turns carrying the Yamakasa, which is about 3 meters tall and weighs about 1 ton, and runs through the city with all their might.
The festival gets more exciting in stages. On July 10th, each nagare (a regional group; there are seven in total) will sail a Yamakasa for the first time. The ``Oiyama-narashi'' on July 12th is a rehearsal, but it is just as powerful as the actual performance.
The biggest highlight is the Oiyamakasa festival held early in the morning on July 15th. At 4:59 a.m., the Ichiban Yamakasa rushes into the grounds of Kushida Shrine, sings the Hakata Iwai-uta (the Hakata Celebration Song), and then sprints along the approximately 5-kilometre "Oi Yamakasa Course." Seven streams will start in sequence and the time of each stream will be measured.
Viewing points
- Oi Yamakasa (July 15):Starts at 4:59am. Space reservations will begin around 1 a.m. around Kushida Shrine. Sajikiseki seats are sold by lottery, and applications close in early June every year. Viewing from the roadside is free.
- Visiting Kazari Yamakasa:From July 1st to July 14th, you can visit various locations in the city including Hakata Station, Tenjin, and Nakasu. There is also a decorative mountain that is lit up until midnight.
- Kiomizu:When the Kakiyamagasa runs, a large amount of water is sprayed from the roadside. Viewers may also get wet, so cameras and cell phones should be waterproofed.
- access:Kushida Shrine is about a 5-minute walk from Fukuoka Municipal Subway Gion Station and about a 15-minute walk from JR Hakata Station. On the day of Oi Yamakasa, it will be early in the morning, so it will be before the first train of public transportation. It is practical to go there on foot from a hotel near Hakata Station.
⛩️ 山笠の起源と「女人禁制」
The origin of Yamakasa is said to date back to 1241, when Shoichi Kokushi, the founder of Jouten-ji Temple, went around the city sprinkling prayer water to ward off an epidemic. This origin story is also said to be the source of the current kioi-mizu tradition.
Even now, the Hakata Gion Yamakasa is limited to men. Women are not even allowed to touch the Kakiyamagasa. This nyonin-kinsei (the exclusion of women) has been maintained as a festival tradition, and has become a subject of debate in recent years. Understanding this custom when visiting will give you a deeper understanding of the festival's background.
In Fukuoka in July, there are many days when the temperature exceeds 30℃. Oi Yamakasa in the early morning is a relatively cool time, but you will need to take precautions against the heat when visiting Kazari Yamakasa during the day. Hakata is about 5 hours from Tokyo by Shinkansen and about 2 hours by plane. Hotels near Hakata Station fill up quickly during the Yamakasa period, so if you're planning a visit, we recommend securing accommodation first.