Seven floats, each carried on the shoulders of 26 men, compete over a 5km (3 miles) course. The spectators cheer them on and (this is the point) sprinkle refreshing water over them, a tradition that is said to have originated in the plague year of 1241, when the founder of Joten Temple saved the city by sprinkling sweet water everywhere. The racing floats (Kaki Yamagasa) are a male preserve, while the women have even more ornate fixed floats called Kazari Yamagasa. These feature the famous Hakata dolls and are on show throughout the festival. The Kaki Yamagasa are paraded for the last five days of the festival and raced in the climactic Oiyama contest on the final day

Date: 01 Jul 2007 - 15 Jul 2007