Hakata Dontaku

The Hakata Dontaku (博多どんたく) is a traditional festival held annually in Fukuoka, Japan, with more than 840 years of history.

Following the opening night event of 2 May, a 1.2 km stretch of Meiji-dori, one of Fukuoka's busiest thoroughfares, is closed to vehicles and transformed into "Dontaku Street".

A typical festival features over 650 groups, including 33,000 individual performers, and draws an audience of over 2 million people during the two days.

[citation needed] Moreover, it is also one of the biggest three festivals in Fukuoka (along with Hakata Gion Yamakasa and Hōjōya).

The beginning of Matsubayashi was in Kyoto and usually people visited a lord's castle to perform a traditional dance.

It wasn't a celebration of Lunar New Year anymore and what people did during the festival period slightly adjusted.

A group called "Dontaku Tai" will be performing and also people decide the Miss Fukuoka at that night as well.

[3] In order to come and see the show people need to have an entrance ticket which will be handed out 2 weeks before the event and free.

3 Gods of fortune ride horses and walk around the city of Fukuoka as original Matsubayashi did in the history.