Karatsu Kunchi - Kyushu's Greatest Traditional Float Festival

Karatsu Kunchi is a traditional autumn festival held annually from November 2nd to 4th in Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture, boasting over 400 years of history. In 2016, it was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage as part of the "Yama, Hoko, Yatai Float Festivals" and is designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan, making it one of Kyushu's premier festivals. The main attraction of the festival is the 14 magnificent and splendid floats called "hikiyama." Each float features unique designs including red lions, blue lions, flying dragons, sea bream, and helmet-shaped floats, standing 5-6 meters tall and weighing 2-5 tons. These massive works of art are constructed with wooden frames layered with Japanese paper and finished with the finest lacquer and gold leaf, earning them recognition as some of the world's largest lacquerware artworks. The festival unfolds over three days, attracting a total of 500,000 visitors. On the first day, "Yoiyama," the floats adorned with lanterns create a mystical procession through the night streets. The second day, "Otabisho Shinko," features the floats parading from Karatsu Shrine to Myojindai (Nishi-no-hama Otabisho). The highlight is the dramatic entrance and exit of the floats at the Otabisho. On the final day, the floats follow nearly the same route as the previous day's divine procession, traveling approximately 8 kilometers east to west through the old castle town before being stored in the float warehouses. The sight of selected pullers from each neighborhood working together to pull the floats while chanting "Enya" and "Yoisa" is truly spectacular. The procession through the streets accompanied by flutes and drums carries on the precious cultural heritage that has breathed the spirit of tradition from the Edo period to the present day.