Hakata Gion Yamakasa: Experiencing Fukuoka’s Most Important Summer Festival

Local confession: even though I live in Fukuoka, I have only been to Yamakasa’s main event, the Oiyama, a handful of times over the years. The race starts before sunrise, the crowds are intense, and I am very much not a morning person. Still, Hakata Gion Yamakasa is one of those events I think is worth experiencing at least once while you are in Fukuoka.