The Kishiwada Danjiri Festival is on again, this year on the weekend of Sept 16 and 17. The first festival was held in 1703 by the daimyo of Kishiwada city, and it celebrates local culture as well as the skills of the local craftsmen, many of them have been in the game for generations. This festival is known for its mixture of danger and excitement, and once you are on the streets in Kishiwada and Haruki, you will know why, as 35 neighborhood teams race their 4 tonne danjiri through the streets. At night, take it the markets or relax over a beer in the courtyard Kispa La Park, where you can also get together over a game of ten pin bowling or karaoke. Kishiwada and Haruki is just 30 minutes away from either Osaka City and Kansai International Airport on the Nankai Wakayama and Airport Lines.