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District Information & Exhibition Locations

Everything about the Yamakasa and their districts

Yamakasa-NaviYamakasa Locations

Todays Yamakasa festival is centered around the rivalry between the districts and their struggle to have the best Kazariyama and run their Kakiyama the fastest. Hakatas division into districts happened 1587 under the rule of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Hakata is surrounded by a river on both sides and the rivers often make the boundaries of the districts, that were originally orientated along a parallel main road. The districts are called 流 (Nagare), which means "Flow" or "Stream" in Japanese and the districts together are often referred to as "七流" (Shichi-nagare) or "Seven-streams".

The seven districts are Chiyo-nagare (千代流), Ebesu-nagare (恵比須流), Doi-nagare (土居流), Daikoku-nagare (大黒流), Higashi-nagare (東流), Nakasu-nagare (中洲流) and Nishi-nagare (西流).

Exhibition Points
Kakiyama & Districts
Kazariyama & Locations

Exhibition Points

For a larger Map click [here].

Kakiyama & Districts

Daikoku-nagare (大黒流)

This district has not changed as much as the others over the centuries. The inhabitants here lay much upon their traditions.

Higashi-nagare (東流)

The Higashi-nagare district is relatively new and was founded in 1966 as part of a reorganisation project. It today incorporates the former Gofukumachi-nagare and the Kushida-nagare.

Nakasu-nagare (中洲流)

West-Japans first entertainment district. This district spans over five parallel streets, is an island in the Ishido-River and the western most district of Hakata. Every five years it is Nakasu-nagares turn to be the hosting district of the festivites.

Nishi-nagare (西流)

This district is located west of Hakats main street, the Taihaku-dori. During the festival, its streets are often full of fascinated salesmen, that are on the way to one of Nishi-nagares many office buildings. The old population and the freshly moved buisnessmen, that work here, put themselves together, causing an unusaul amount of participants from this district.

Chiyo-nagare (千代流)

This district is relatively new, since it was added to Hakata after World War Two to incorporate the large amount of houses being built on the east side of Hakatas bordering river. It has the largest area and also brings a large amount of participants each year.

Ebesu-nagare (恵比須流)

Originally called Ishido-nagare, this district was renamed due to its area being almost identical to the area of the Ebisu-nagare district, that is used as division of the city during the Hakata-Dontaku festival.

Doi-nagare (土居流)

This relatively small district is orientated along the Doi-raod, along which the Kushida-shrine is located. The Kushida-shrine is a part of this district.

Kazariyama & Locations

Higashi-nagare

Higashi-nagare too builds two Yamakasa. Both will be on display at the Businesscentre above the Gofuku-machi Station.

Nakasu-nagare

Nakasu-nagare builds a Kakiyama as well as a Kazariyama for the festivities every year. Its Kazariyama will be on display on front of the Resol Hotel in Nakasu-nagare.

Kamikawabata-dōri

The street Kamikawabata-dōri within Doi-nagare builds its own carryable Kazariyama, that its inhabitants carry after the Kakiyama to certain events such as the Shudanyamamise or the presentation ceremony of the Oiyama.

Watanabe-dōri Icchome

This Kazariyama is located in front of the Hotel New Otani. The stores along the Watanabe-dori have participated since 1979.

Fukuoka Dome

This Kazariyama is the most far away from Hakata. It is located at the Fukuoka Baseball Stadium, called Fukuoka Dome. The Kazariyama was first built in the year 2000 and is decorated with players from Fukuokas baseball team, the Softbank Hawks.

Hakata Mall-Union

This Kazariyama is built by Hakata Station and attracts people to the attached malls during the time of the festival. It has been built there since 1972 and also serves as an indroduction to the festival for anyone who just arrived at the station.

Canal City Hakata

The large number of tourists, that visit Canal City Hakata every day, can now see one of Hakatas beautiful Kazariyama on the centre stage of the large commercial complex.

Kawabata Chuōgai

Kawabata Central is at the heart of Daikoku-nagare and consists of many smaller stores, that thogether have been displaying their own Kazariyama for the last 36 years.

Solaria

Since 1991 the Solaria Mall in Tenjin Fukuoka builds its own Kazariyama and displays it on the Solaria plaza next to the Kego-shrine. The characteristic design of the Solaria Mall exentuates the glamorous Kazariyama.

Shinten-chō

Shinten-chō was the first to build a Kazariyama for the festival outside of Hakata in 1949. At the time people were reluctant to accept Kazariyama from outside Hakata as a part of the festival, but the merchants of Shinten-chō showed enough dedication to sway the puplic opinion.

Riverain Mall Hakata

The Riverrain mall is a commercial complex in the district Daikoku-nagare, that lies at the main street Meji-dori, giving it a great view on parades such as the Hakata-Dontaku parade in spring and the Shudanyamamise. Its Kazariyama are usually centered around Kabuki-theatre.

Tenjin Icchome

Tenjins Kazariyama has only been a part of the festival since 2005, making it very young. Located inside the Daimaru Arcade, with its over 13 metre height is a sight to behold.

Kushida-jinja(*shrine)

This special Kazariyama is on display all year round and is build by the Kushida-shrine in order to show tourists what a Kazariyama looks like. It is not actally a part of the festivities, which is why it has no number.

Districts Kakiyama

The Kazariyama

Childrens Yamakasa

Yamakasa-Navi

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