Hakata Gion Yamakasa runs for 15 days. It begins on July 1st with the unveiling of the kazari-yama (called “kazari-yama koukai”), and finishes early on the morning of the 15th with “Oiyama.” The event goes by a very strict schedule regardless of the weather, and start times to the events are timed right down to the second. The schedule for the event is outlined below.

[Day 1] Kazari-yama Public Viewing
On the first day of this event, people begin decorating the kazari-yama and preparing them for public viewing. It is said that precedence is given to the leading floats and work is often carried out on these ones first.

[Day 9] Oshioi tori
All male members and children of the seven ‘nagare’ taking part in kaki-yama gather at the beach of Hakazoki Shrine, “Hakozaki-hama,” and cleanse their bodies with the purifying sand (“oshioi”). ‘Oshioi tori’ is performed as part of a ritual to pray for the safety of the carriers of the floats during the Yamakasa period.

[Day 10] Nagare Kaki
Between 4pm and 6pm on the 10th day, each of the nagare showcase their floats for the first time within their respective districts. This is the first day that moving the floats and practice for the race truly begins.

[Day 11] Asayama (Nagare Kaki)
Also known as “Shugi-yama” (celebratory yama), Asayama takes place from 5:00~6:00am on the 11th, when each of the nagare performs an early morning run in their respective districts. As the name “shugi-yama” suggests, it is a day of celebration, whereby successful members from the older generations are invited to participate and drinks and appetizers are served. “Tsuizen-yama,” a time to pay respects and visit the houses of distinguished members of Yamakasa who may have passed away during the year, is also performed during the Asayama ritual. This is also the only day when children are permitted to ride on top of the floats.

[Day 12] Oiyama Narashi
This is a day of practice for ‘Oiyama’ and begins with the first float entering Kushida Shrine grounds (“Kushida-iri”) at 3:59pm. The participants run a shorter course (approx. 4km) than the real ‘Oiyama’ course, but their times are still recorded, so the atmosphere is still very much intense.

[Day 13] Shudan Yama-mise
At 3:30pm, each of the nagare parade their floats from the Gofukumachi intersection in Hakata ward, down to Fukuoka City Hall in Tenjin, Chuo ward. This is the only day on which the kaki-yama leave the boundaries of Old Hakata, where the Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival was born, and cross over into the old castle town area of Fukuoka.

[Day 14] Nagare Kaki
On the evening of the 14th, each of the ‘nagare’ perform one last circuit of their respective districts and make the final preparations for ‘Oiyama’ the following day. Also, as it’s the veteran members and the younger members with sufficient experience who actually take part in Oiyama and carry the floats, this day becomes the final day of the year for the less experienced members to be able to carry the floats.

[Day 15] Oiyama
At exactly 4:59am, the beating of taiko drums signals the entrance of the leading Yamakasa float into the Kushida Shrine grounds. Following this, each of the ‘nagare’ enters the race at 5-minute intervals. The seven teams compete in the 5km race through the districts of Hakata – a course that takes roughly 30 minutes to complete. Oiyama is the climax to Hakata Gion Yamakasa and also signals the close of the entire event.

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