[UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage] Roots date back to the Edo period (approximately 200 years ago) when the capital was attacked by an epidemic and the people prayed to Sunanoo-no-Mikoto (one of the two major deities involved in the creation of Japan) for help. After successfully ridding the land of the disease, the people in turn created a “Yamakasa” to celebrate and show their gratitude.

During the festival in the daytime, the eight official floats with twelve great flags hoisted on the four large ones are carried for a parade, followed by some small floats for children. But in the nighttime, the floats are completely transformed into pyramids of light—huge Lantern Yamakasa floats, their decorations with the flags removed. Each with twelve layers of 309 lanterns, 10 meters high, and 1.5 tons in weight, is shouldered by about 100 carriers.

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