🎎 Karatsu Kunchi Festival

The annual festival "Karatsu Kunchi" held at Karatsu Shrine in the autumn is said to have originated in the Edo period and is a historic event. The "Karatsu Kunchi Yama (Float) Festival" is listed as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO and is designated as a national intangible folk cultural heritage. The festival lasts for three days, starting with the evening float procession on November 2, followed by the procession to the temporary shrine on the 3rd, and concluding with the next day festival on the 4th. A highlight of the event is the 14 magnificent floats (yama). Each float is about 7 meters high and weighs around 2 to 3 tons, featuring various shapes such as lions, samurai helmets, turtles, and sea bream, each with its own unique characteristics. Accompanied by the sounds of flutes and taiko drums, along with the powerful shouts of "Enya-Enya" and "Yoisa-Yoisa," the floats parade through the streets of the old castle town, creating a spectacular scene. During the evening "Yoi Yama" event, the massive floats emit a magical atmosphere under the glow of lanterns. On the 3rd, the procession to the temporary shrine showcases the impressive sight of the floats making their way through the sandy area of Nishinobama. The floats, adorned with lions and samurai helmets, are praised as "the world's largest lacquer art crafts," making them worth a close look. Additionally, the festival's music, selected as one of the "100 Soundscapes of Japan to Keep," is also noteworthy.

The magnificent and splendid Yamakasa (large float) parades through the streets. The Yamakasa is praised as "the world's largest lacquer art craft." It is listed as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO and designated as a national intangible folk cultural heritage. The bayashi (traditional music) has been selected as one of the "100 Japanese Soundscapes to Preserve." Ordinary families also prepare local "KUNCHI ryori (くんち料理)" to entertain visitors.