Following the annual rice harvest in Niigata Prefecture, Japan, there has traditionally been lots of leftover straw. Yet creative locals have come up with a novel way of re-using it. Every August 31st, in a move that delights crowds of visitors, a special “wara” or rice-straw festival is held. The festival sees artists and creatives construct gigantic animal sculptures out of the leftover straw, fashioning the massive beasts over large wooden frames, which in some cases, allow visitors to interact with them. Dinosaurs are popular, although other giant animals, including snakes and insects add to the spectacle. Check it out!
Website: city.niigata.lp.jp
