Hakata Gion Yamakasa博多祇園山笠

A rite offered at the summer festival of Kushida Shrine. From July 1 until the dawn Oiyamakasa on the 15th, the nagare districts of Hakata tend, carry and race their yamakasa floats.

Hakata Gion Yamakasa has been handed down through the nagare, the traditional district units of Hakata. From July 1 until late on the 14th, decorative kazari-yamakasa more than ten metres tall are displayed around the city, and from the 10th each nagare's kaki-yamakasa are carried at a run through the streets. After the Oiyamakasa-narashi rehearsal on the 12th and the Shudan Yamakasa-mise on the 13th, the Oiyamakasa begins at 4:59 a.m. on the 15th, when the first float makes its Kushida-iri into the shrine.

This is a religious rite rooted in a shrine or temple. Please follow the guidance of the organizers and clergy, and take care not to disrupt the ceremonies.

According to the City of Fukuoka's tourism site, one account traces the festival to 1241 (Ninji 2), when an epidemic struck Hakata and the priest Shoichi Kokushi was carried through the town on a segaki offering platform, praying as he went.

Source: 福岡市(external site, opens in a new tab)

As the Agency for Cultural Affairs describes it, the rite begins with the tsuji-kito prayers on July 1 and proceeds through dressing the floats, the okami-ire ritual that invites the deity, the oshioi-tori sand purification, nagare-kaki and other carrying runs, culminating in the race to enter Kushida Shrine in the Oiyamakasa on the 15th. The festival is sustained by the nagare, the town's communal units.

1. 01

   Kazari-yamakasa

   Decorative floats more than ten metres tall, displayed around the city from July 1 until late on the 14th.

2. 02

   Oshioi-tori

   On July 9, all the nagare gather purifying sand at Hakozaki beach.

3. 03

   Shudan Yamakasa-mise

   On July 13, the carried floats enter the Fukuoka side of the city.

4. 04

   Oiyamakasa

   Beginning at 4:59 a.m. on July 15, each float races to enter Kushida Shrine and then runs a course of about 5 km.

The floats are carried by Hakata's nagare districts; the designated preservation body is the Hakata Gion Yamakasa Shinkokai.

• Hakata Gion Yamakasa映像「令和４年 博多祇園山笠」

• Hakata Gion Yamakasa博多祇園山笠「男たちの夏祭り」（１５分版）

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The Oiyamakasa takes place in the early morning of July 15. The Hakata Gion Yamakasa Shinkokai and the City of Fukuoka's tourism site publish each year's schedule and routes.

Traffic controls, seating and fees change every year. Always check the official website for the latest information.

Official website — hakatayamakasa.com(external site, opens in a new tab)

• Never block the path of the running floats
• Respect the festival as a Shinto rite and follow stewards' directions

• UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage · 2016

  UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage: Yama, Hoko, Yatai, float festivals in Japan

  Designated subject: Hakata Gion Yamakasa Gyoji (Hakata Gion Yamakasa float event)（Festival as a whole）

  Source: 博多祇園山笠行事 - 文化遺産オンライン(external site, opens in a new tab)

• National designation · 1979

  Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property

  Designated subject: Hakata Gion Yamakasa Gyoji (Hakata Gion Yamakasa float event)（Festival as a whole）

  Source: 博多祇園山笠行事 - 文化遺産オンライン(external site, opens in a new tab)

1. 1.博多祇園山笠スケジュール（2026年度） - 博多祇園山笠(external site, opens in a new tab)博多祇園山笠振興会 · Accessed 2026-09-26
2. 2.博多祇園山笠 特集｜【公式】福岡市観光情報サイト よかなび(external site, opens in a new tab)福岡市 · Accessed 2026-09-26
3. 3.博多祇園山笠行事 - 文化遺産オンライン(external site, opens in a new tab)文化庁 · Accessed 2026-09-26
4. 4.「山・鉾・屋台行事」のユネスコ無形文化遺産登録（代表一覧表記載）について(external site, opens in a new tab)文化庁 · Accessed 2026-09-26

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  A Hakata Gion Yamakasa kakiyama float with warrior figures carried through Fukuoka by men in happi coats

  Photographer

  Pontafon

  Source

  Hakata gion yamakasa 2006 02.jpg(external site, opens in a new tab)

  Licence

  CC BY-SA 3.0(external site, opens in a new tab)

• 

  A towering Hakata Gion Yamakasa kazariyama float standing in the grounds of Kushida Shrine

  Photographer

  lienyuan lee

  Source

  博多祇園山笠 - panoramio.jpg(external site, opens in a new tab)

  Licence

  CC BY 3.0(external site, opens in a new tab)

• 

  A Hakata Gion Yamakasa decorated float framed by its white shelter and red-and-white hangings

  Photographer

  Hirho

  Source

  Hakata Gion Yamakasa the 10th decorated float Watanabe-dōri-1-chōme Chūō-ku Fukuoka City 20230711.jpg(external site, opens in a new tab)

  Licence

  CC BY-SA 4.0(external site, opens in a new tab)

• 

  A long line of Yamakasa bearers in loincloths and happi coats running down a Fukuoka street

  Photographer

  Ran Zwigenberg

  Source

  Yamakasa (3749815972).jpg(external site, opens in a new tab)

  Licence

  CC BY 2.0(external site, opens in a new tab)