A peculiar festival in Japan that changes its appearance during the day and night.
During the day, the yamakasa floats are in their original form called nobori yamagasa, and decorated with beautiful gold and silver embroidery.
At night, the ornaments are removed and the floats are transformed into 12-tier pyramids covered in 309 chochin lanterns.
The chochin oyamagasa pyramids are about 10 m high, weigh 2.5 tons, and are courageously carried by around 80 people each keeping in step with the beat of the gongs and taiko drums of the hayashi musical accompaniment.
The Tobata Gion Oyamagasa Competition is held during the day, with four oyamagasa and four smaller kowakayamagasa carried by junior high school students gathered together in a scene that captures the hearts of onlookers.
It was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in December 2016.

Event Dates	Friday - Sunday, including the fourth weekend in July every year
Event Details	Please check each festival on the official website to confirm if it will take place this year or not.
Official site	https://www.city.kitakyushu.lg.jp/tobata/file_0094.html
Location (venue)	Throughout the Tobata-ku in Kitakyushi City
Address	1-1-1 Senbo, Tobata-ku, Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka
Price	Free admission in principle Grandstand seating: Reserved - 5,500 yen; Non-reserved - 4,500 yen

Region	Kyushu
Category	Bravery, Processions and parades

Event organizers may change the date and time. Please check the official website.

update: May.26.2025