The Kakunodate festival is one of Japan’s most unique and historically rich festivals. It brings together the traditions of Buddhism and Shintoism with an array of vibrant performances and dramatic clashes between elaborately decorated floats. The festival takes place in early September in Kakunodate, a city located in Akita Prefecture. It dates to the 1600s and has been designated as a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property as well as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. Kakunodate FestivalThe festival is a rare combination of Buddhist and Shinto traditions, as a shrine and te…