Festival · Hakata Ward, Fukuoka
Hakata Gion Yamakasa
博多祇園山笠
For the first half of July, Fukuoka's old merchant district of Hakata comes alive with float races. Teams in loincloths and short coats run with one-tonne floats on their shoulders, ending in a timed dawn race on 15 July.
When
1–15 July every year
- 2027 dates
- 1 – 15 Jul 2027
- Main days
- Mon, 12 Jul 2027, Tue, 13 Jul 2027, Thu, 15 Jul 2027
- Cost
- Free; a few seats at Kushida Shrine
- Crowds
- Very heavy at dawn on 15 July
- Time needed
- Final race starts at 4:59 on 15 July
- Nearest station
- Gion or Nakasu-Kawabata (subway)
In short
- The race on 15 July starts at exactly 4:59 am. Stay nearby the night before; the first trains do not run that early.
- From 1 July, about a dozen tall display floats stand around the city. They are free to see and make a good walking tour of Hakata.
- On 13 July the teams run through the city centre in the afternoon, the easiest race to watch if you are not an early riser.
- Spectators get splashed with water as the teams pass. Most people take it as a blessing, so protect your camera, not yourself.
- Combine it with Fukuoka's famous food stalls and a bowl of Hakata ramen. Check the Fukuoka weather for heat and rain.
What happens when
| Date | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 1 July | Display floats go on show around the city | Kushida Shrine, Canal City and other spots |
| 10 July | Nagarekaki: each team runs its own district | Hakata district |
| 12 July, 15:59 | Oiyamanarashi, a timed rehearsal of the final race, about 4 km | From Kushida Shrine |
| 13 July, 15:30 | Shudan Yamamise, all teams run into the city centre, about 1.3 km | Meiji-dori, Gofukumachi to Tenjin |
| 15 July, 4:59 | Oiyama, the final timed race, about 5 km | From Kushida Shrine through Hakata |
What the Yamakasa is
The festival belongs to Kushida Shrine and is said to go back more than 770 years, to a priest who was carried through the streets sprinkling holy water to end an epidemic. Seven neighbourhood teams each carry a kakiyama, a racing float of about one tonne, on long poles over their shoulders.
The teams wear a short happi coat and a shimekomi loincloth, and run while spectators throw water to cool them. The festival is part of a UNESCO intangible heritage listing.
The dawn race on 15 July
At 4:59 am the first float bursts into the grounds of Kushida Shrine, circles a pole and runs out on a course of about 5 km. Each team is timed, and the crowds along the route cheer every one through.
Kushida Shrine has only a small number of seats, sold through the shrine. Most people stand along the streets outside: get there by 4 am for a front spot, and use a taxi or walk, since trains are not yet running.
The display floats
Next to the racing floats are the kazariyama, display floats more than 10 m tall decorated with dolls showing scenes from history and folk tales. They stand still from 1 to 15 July and can be visited any time of day.
The one at Kushida Shrine stays on show all year, so you can still see one even if you miss the festival.
Where it happens
Questions
When is the Hakata Gion Yamakasa?
From 1 to 15 July every year. The final dawn race is on 15 July at 4:59 am.
What is the easiest race to watch?
The Shudan Yamamise on 13 July from 15:30, when all teams run along Meiji-dori from Gofukumachi to Tenjin.
Can I see a float outside the festival?
Yes. Kushida Shrine displays a decorated float all year.
More festivals in July
Plan around it
Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources.
Facts checked 24 October 2026