The Kurayami Matsuri (Dark Night Festival), is held every year in Fuchu-city, Tokyo. It is a historic event that has continued since the Nara period (8th century) and attracts a large number of visitors during the "Golden Week" holiday. The festival starts on April 30 and holds a parade of 21 festival floats on Kyu-Koshu Kaido Avenue on May 4. The highlight of the festival was on May 5 when Mikoshi Togyo (a parade of portable shrines) was presented. Eight portable shrines were lead by giant taiko drums and proceeded through a huge crowd of people. Unfortunately for photographic purposes, most of the parade is after dark. The other various events and ceremonies at the shrine's precinct were also interesting.