Festivals in Fukuoka

Drummers play both sides of drums mounted on moving floats in Kokura's Gion festival.

Rituals honoring living creatures and stalls along the shrine approach mark this autumn festival.

Fukuoka's high-energy festival where teams race through the streets carrying massive floats.

Rival groups compete for a wooden ball in a New Year ritual for good harvests and fishing.

Bullfinch-exchanging ceremony at Dazaifu Tenmangu to replace bad luck with good.

Fukuoka's largest festival with over 2 million visitors, featuring parades and stages.

Autumn harvest thanksgiving festival at Kushida Shrine in Fukuoka.

Joint fireworks display between Shimonoseki and Kitakyushu over the Kanmon Strait.

Carried floats transform from daytime banners into glowing tiers of lanterns after dark.