Hot Air Balloon Festival in Saga, Japan

Source: CCTV.com | 11-09-2008 10:36

Hundreds of hot air balloons of all shapes and sizes have taken to the skies above southern Japan for an annual festival.

Hundreds of hot air balloons of all shapes and sizes have  taken to the skies above southern Japan for an annual  festival.

The five-day event brings together hot air balloon enthusiasts from around the world and has been taking place in Saga prefecture for 30 years. Sixty-six teams from 14 countries and regions participated in the international competition.

Japanese university student, Yudai Fujita, took home the top prize of 1-and-a-half million yen, or more than 15,000 US dollars. Over 900,000 residents and tourists came to see this year's festival - the largest of its kind in Asia.