Hakata Gion Yamasaka is a festival with a 750 year history that features fundoshi (that ever popular festival garment) clad men race elaborately decorated floats that weigh in at 1 ton.
The event is one of Fukuoka’s largest with approximately 1 million spectators expected to observe the festivities.
The main processions take place on the 10th, 11th and 14th of July. The closest station is Tenjin Station, but JR Hakata Station is also within walking distance.
Bonfires, torches, shrines and gods are all out in the streets for this vibrant Kyoto festival. Taking place in Kurama, a small village north of Kyoto proper, the Kurama no Hi Matsuri is a cultural event rather than a big […]
Dating back to 1650, this is one of Japan’s longest running fireworks festivals. With 18,000 fireworks and 400,000 spectators, it’s also one of the largest in western Japan. The fireworks will be launched from two different locations along the Chikugo […]
Want to see a slice of Japanese history? The Jidai Matsuri—”Festival of Ages”—is one of Kyoto‘s biggest October draws. It commemorates the founding of Kyoto as the Imperial capital by the Emperor Kammu in 794, so this is definitely one […]
The Miyazakijingu Taisai (Miyazaki Shrine Grand Festival) is a traditional festival at one of Miyazaki’s major Shinto shrines with a history of more than 140 years. Colloquially known as Jinmu-sama, the festival features a “procession of the gods” on both […]
