Walking tour to the Yamakasa race floats in Fukuoka

Yesterday, I took a walking tour to see the Yamakasa (山笠) race floats in Gofukumachi (呉服町) and Kamikawabata-dori (上川端通) shopping arcade. Yamakasa is an annual summer festival held from July 1 to 15 by Kushida Shrine in Fukuoka. 

First, I stopped at Hasuike-dori Street to see the third race float by Ebisu-nagare near Gokufumachi subway station. How do I get there? From the station exit 5, go straight on Meiji-dori Avenue. Then turn right from the Hotel New Gaea Kamigofuku at the third corner.

Next, I went to Kamikawabata-dori shopping arcade, a covered walkway on the way to Canal City Hakata from Nakasu-Kawabata subway station. This is the Kakiyama (舁き山) carrying float that raced through the town of Hakata.

The other one is a stationary float that is drawing the Kabuki folk dance.