Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival
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One of the most exciting summer festival in Japan. takes place from July 1 to 15 and is
held at Kushida-jinja Shrine in Hakata. There are two kinds of festival floats called Yamakasa.
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One is Kazari-yamakasa with 15 meters high, a gorgeously decorated festival float which is decked
with elaborate dolls and castles. The other is Kakiyamakasa with 6 meters high, a simply decorated
festival float which is made for carrying on the shoulders and used in the Oiyama race.
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The festival features the exciting race called Oiyama climaxing on July 15.
Teams of men clad in short happi-coats and loincloths dash down the city street at full
speed carrying their own one-ton Kakiyamakasa on their shoulders along a 5-kilometer course.
A spectacle that must be seen to be believed.