Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival (博多祇園山笠)
Time: July 1-15
Prefecture: Fukuoka
Location: Kushida Shrine

The festival reaches its zenith with a thrilling time trial race in the early morning of July 15. During this race, seven neighborhoods from Fukuoka's Hakata district engage in a competition to push elaborately adorned festival floats along a five-kilometer course through the city.