hakata-gion-yamakasa-festival

I wake up at10 am full of energy. I hire the hostel bicyclefor two hours. Two hundred yen but I dont mind. The bicycle is bright yellow but I dont mind.nFukuoka is massive, it reminds me ofTokyo; similar but of a smaller scale. There are skyscrapers all over the place. Littered between the buildings, random glass boxes on street corners display ceramic artwork; poetry is written next to streams and etched into fountains. It feels like I am wandering around inside some giant outdoor art exhibition.nnnnnAs I cycle around I get a little lost. I find an area of just temples and shrines, tucked neatly away between traffic jams and chaos. After a long look around Fukuoka, I finally find a map andmakemy way back to the hostel, my two-hour bicycle rental almost up.nI make plans to meet Amy and her friends outside Tenjin Station at half ten. At half Tenjin. I dont know her friends, so it is nice of her to include me. The plan for this evening is2000all-you-can-drink Karaoke, before going to see the festival at 4:59 am.nAmy also tells me a few things I should check out. With fourhours to kill, I take her advice and head to Hakata Station; specifically, the tenth floor. The early afternoon drizzle has gone now, no carrying around an umbrella all evening. A welcome bonus. I take the lift, twenty-two other people also join me; Iam the tallest.nnOn the tenth floor,there istopiary everywhere, mostly rabbits and bears. Against All Odds by Phil Collins blaresfrom every speaker. There is a miniature train track but the train doesnt seem to be in operation in the evening. Planes land at the nearby Fukuoka Airport,mountains watchin the background. The view is sensational.nThere are gardens, waterfalls, fish, a viewing platform, and a shrine.I am somewhat taken aback by the beauty of the place; I almost forget that I am on the roof of atrain station. I decide tostay for the setting sun; 7:29 pm:nnI walk to Tenjin for food and to take in a bit of the nightlife. I forgot how much of a trek it was to get here; it takes me half an hour from Hakata. Outside a restaurant,I spot a plastic model of a Bento Box that looks amazing.nInside, I sit at the bar.The fish is all set out behind glass in front of me. I order a set meal. Itcontains miso soup, vegetable tempura, Sushi, a selection of pickles, potato salad, and a small Japanese omelette.I drink a beer and watch the chef carefully cut and prepare the fish.nThe chef asks me if I am American. I tell him England and the atmospheresuddenly changes. Not that there was really a mood in the first place. It is difficult for me to explain. The chef just becomes a little more relaxedand begins to talk a little as he prepares my food.nnThe sushi is excellent, very fresh. The mushroom tempura was, without a doubt, the best food I have ever tasted. Ever. It was amazing; the batter light, delicate, simply perfect. With a beer, my meal is 2808. This is actually the most expensive meal I think I have had here. I tell the chef the food is delicious, but for whatever reason, everyone laughs.nI meet Amy and her friends at theNorth Exit of Tenji Station. Our group consists of a total of fourteen people. To Karaoke! As per usual in Japan, songs are selected usinga computer screen, drinks are ordered using a phone. Someone is ordering a round, I ask for a Highball. A translation issue occurs and am I handed four drinksinstead of one.nnTheKaraoke is excellent value. You can order a drink and it arrives in under a minute. In Tokyo, the service at Karaoke was incredibly slow. I first met Amy back in Englandat an open mic night, where she was performing; I somehow forgot just how well she can sing though. There is a really nice mix of Japanese, English, Canadian, and French people in the group. We sing a lovely mix of Japanese and British pop classics.nAfter six hours of drinking, we walkback to Hakata for the Oyamakasa main event of the Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival.nThefirst team leaves the starting line at Kushida Shrine at 4:59 am. Thousands of semi-naked men wearing loincloths race throughthe street carrying decorative one-tonne floats. The floats look spectacular. Spectators shout,Oisa oisa, applaud, and splash the semi-naked men with water to keep them cool.nnAt the festival, I take far too many photographs of other people taking photographs. The turn out is amazing for so early in the morning; the streets crowded with crowds. Westay for maybe an hour.nI finally get back to my hostel at half six. Far too late a night, but absolutely worth my time.nRead the next part of my Journey in Japan, where I take a day exploring the sights of Fukuoka by clicking here.

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