About the festival
Hakata Gion Yamakasa combines towering display floats with fast-moving kakiyama carried through the streets. Daytime float viewing and the dawn Oiyama race are very different outings.
Who is it for?
Visitors interested in neighborhood festivals and energetic traditional races.
Photo: ちょちょじ · CC BY 3.0
Original date: 2008-07-15. Original image or Commons thumbnail; no additional edits.
Dates and times
Usually 1–15 July; Oiyama race at dawn on 15 July
Usual season; next dates not confirmed. Times use JST. See the official programme for session times and changes.
Venue and parade route
Fukuoka · 福岡
Oiyama starts at Kushida Shrine and follows roughly 5 km through Hakata to Susakimachi. Display floats stand at separate sites and do not all take part in the race.
櫛田神社・博多市街
The map pin marks a reference venue, rather than every entrance or the full parade route.
Getting there by train or bus
- From Hakata, take the Nanakuma subway to Kushida-jinja-mae, about a two-minute walk from the shrine. Gion on the Airport Line is about six minutes away on foot.
What to see
- Display yamakasa
- Carried kakiyama
- Dawn Oiyama race
History and origins
Tradition links the festival to monk Enni sprinkling water against an epidemic in 1241. Hakata neighborhoods maintain the shrine festival.
Planning your visit
Our editorial suggestions for planning your trip.
Stay within walking distance if you want to see the dawn start; the first train may arrive too late.
Places to visit nearby
Hakata Machiya Folk Museum
博多町家ふるさと館
Exhibits of Hakata's everyday life and traditional crafts.
Visit by day near Kushida Shrine, on a different timetable from the dawn race.
These stops and the suggested order are editorial recommendations. Check each venue's opening hours and festival-day road closures before travelling.
Hakata Gion Yamakasa: common questions
When is Hakata Gion Yamakasa?
Usually 1–15 July; Oiyama race at dawn on 15 July This is the usual season, rather than a confirmed timetable for the next edition. Times are Japan Standard Time (JST).
Where does Hakata Gion Yamakasa take place?
Oiyama starts at Kushida Shrine and follows roughly 5 km through Hakata to Susakimachi. Display floats stand at separate sites and do not all take part in the race.
How do I get to Hakata Gion Yamakasa by public transport?
From Hakata, take the Nanakuma subway to Kushida-jinja-mae, about a two-minute walk from the shrine. Gion on the Airport Line is about six minutes away on foot.
Do the large display floats take part in the race?
The fixed display floats and carried kakiyama are different. Visit display sites for their decorations and the race course for the running teams.
Official sources
- Festival and visitor guide 1 (gofukuoka.jp) ↗
- Festival and visitor guide 2 (www.hakatayamakasa.com) ↗
Sources reviewed: .