• Matsuri Days (3): A Guide to Hakata and the Yamakasa Festival

    The Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival brings the streets of Fukuoka, Kyūshū, to vibrant life for the first two weeks of July, as teams of men race colossal floats through the streets of the city. Three million people visit the city over the course of the festival. We talk to festival participants about what makes the Yamakasa festival special and present a walking guide to the local area.