The one thing that comes to mind during autumn in Karatsu is the Karatsu Kunchi Festival. The Hikiyama, festival floats and the stars of the festival are on display year-round in the Hikiyama Exhibition Hall located beside the Karatsu-jinjya Shrine, a Shinto shrine. The floats were made by layering Washi (Japanese paper) over wooden frames and clay shapes. Linen cloth was then added. After this was completed, the Hikiyama were then painted with red, gold and silver paint until they brightly shined. The weight of the floats range from 2 - 5 tons, and they were made long ago with first-rate skill that leaves a powerful impression and continue to amaze spectators with their spectacular beauty as though they had just jumped out of a picture scroll.