Every July in Fukuoka the Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival is celebrated with towering floats (yamakasa) weighing up to one ton being hoisted by guys dressed in breechcloths racing around the city. The festival is 770 years old and is believed to have been started when a monk had himself carried throughout the town praying in an effort to get rid of the plague. Apparently he was successful, so now the yearly festival, centered around the Kushida Temple, features the float race.
Arriving in Fukuoka from Kagoshima shortly after noon, we stored our backpacks and carry-ons in lockers at the train station and went in search of ramen. Fukuoka is famous for its ramen. And we stopped at a place where suited businessmen were waiting in line. The restaurant was busy for a reason. The ramen was excellent.
We had an hour or so to kill before our apartment was available, so we paid a visit to the Kushida shrine.
It is a tutelary shrine which means it enshrines a tutelary Kami, or patron spirit that protects a given area.
Enshrined in a tall modern vault within the area of the shrine is a float from the Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival.
I watched a woman proceed down a row of prayer ropes bowing, yanking, and clapping at each one. She looked American. We have much to pray for.
A busload of tourists unloaded. We fled and discovered a commercial arcade where Ella tried a finely powdered green tea-based ice cream.
Ok, how was the ice cream? It sounds good.
If you like matcha…which I kind of do. It has an earthy, grassy taste.
I’m jealous. I have heard that real Japanese ramen is amazingly good. Also, is that plague the same as the European one?
The timing coincides and since the Black Death apparently had its origins in China and they had trade with Japan.
Excellent ramen so far. The other day I had black miso ramen (meaning the broth is black miso) and Grubb had green chili ramen which cleared out his sinuses in a hurry.
Don’t know about the plague. Maybe Grubb can answer.