# Hakata Gion Yamakasa

> Two weeks of ritual in Fukuoka that end with teams racing one-tonne floats through the streets at 4:59 in the morning.

- Prefecture: Fukuoka
- Type: Float procession
- Admission: Free to attend
- Typically held: Held every year from 1 to 15 July, with the final race at dawn on the 15th.
- Official site: https://www.hakatayamakasa.com/

## Dates

- 2027-07-01 to 2027-07-15
- Status: confirmed
- Dates verified on 2026-08-20 from https://www.hakatayamakasa.com/

| When | What |
| --- | --- |
| 2027-07-15 04:59 | Oiyama final race |

For the first two weeks of July, Hakata puts up decorative floats around the district that are far too tall to move, and then races entirely different ones. The kazariyama stand still and get photographed. The kakiyama, about a tonne each, get carried at a run by teams of men who change out mid-course. The finale is called Oiyama and it starts at 4:59 in the morning on 15 July. Seven teams leave Kushida shrine at five minute intervals and cover five kilometres through streets that are still dark at the start. It is over by about six, which means the whole thing happens before most of the city is awake.

## Where it happens
- Kushida Shrine

## FAQ

### When is Hakata Gion Yamakasa?

From 1 to 15 July every year. The part most people come for, the Oiyama race, is at 4:59 in the morning on 15 July.

### Can you see the floats outside the race?

Yes. The tall decorative kazariyama stand around the district for the full two weeks and can be seen at any time of day, which is the easy option if the pre dawn start does not appeal.

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Source: Hakata Gion Yamakasa — Japan Voyage