Fukuoka is full of festivals and events all year round. Moving sights await visitors any time of the year, with streets full of greenery, gloriously blooming flowers, festivals upholding inherited traditions, and newly begun music festivals and sports events. Whether it’s your first time or you are coming back for another visit, you’ll want to check out Fukuoka’s extensive sightseeing calendar.

Spring features of Fukuoka are cherry blossoms and the Hakata Dontaku Port Festival. There are many cherry blossom viewing spots in the city from late March to early April. The viewing spots are crowded with people who enjoy hanami（flower viewing）, enjoying sake and meals under the full blooming cherry blossom trees, and who appreciate the trees at night! Especially recommended spots are Maizuru Park and Nishi Park. And Noko Island where you can travel by ferry in about 20 minutes from the urban area. You will see a unique and splendid Japanese view of cherry and rape blossoms against the ocean. Furthermore, various kinds of events are held at the festival sites in the city. In the Dontaku parade, people dressed in elaborate costumes promenading through the street clapping rice scoops is worth seeing. The parade culminates with a dance performed by all the people at the festival including viewers. The festival attracts over 2 million visitors from across Japan, making it a very popular event in Fukuoka.

CALENDAR

Mar

Mid-March to Early April	Fukuoka Castle Cherry Blossom Festival [Fukuoka Castle Ruins（Maizuru Park）]
Late March to Early May	Uminonakamichi Flower Picnic [Uminonakamichi Seaside Park] Professional Baseball and Soccer League Opening [Baseball: FUKUOKA PayPay DOME] [Soccer: Best Denki Stadium]
Late March to Early April	Best Season for Viewing Cherry Blossoms [Maizuru Park, Nishi Park and other viewing spots in the city]

May

3rd and 4th	Hakata Dontaku Port Festival [Around the city]
Late May	Funa-norikomi （Kabuki Actors’ Boat Parade） [Hakataza Theater] ※Kabuki actors riding boats greet a large audience.

Fukuoka boasts the Hakata Gion Yamakasa, the symbolic festival of the city. From July 1st to midnight of the 14th, you can see beautifully decorated Yamakasa floats which are over 10 meters high, exhibited all around the city. Oiyama is the climax of the festival where men wearing traditional costumes dash around the town with festival floats which weigh over 1 ton carried on their shoulders. Once you see this spirit-rousing sight, you will never forget.
There are also fireworks displays held at many places in summer. A lot of people visit these events in traditional Japanese dress.
Another popular summer feature is beer gardens. Drinking cold beer on the roof of a building is wonderful. You can also enjoy sea bathing and marine sports on the beaches in Fukuoka.

CALENDAR

Jun

Early to 　  Late June	Best Season for Viewing Hydrangea Flowers [Around the city] June Hakataza O-Kabuki [Hakataza Theater]

Jul

1st thru 15th	Hakata Gion Yamakasa [Kushida Shrine and other spots around the city] 1st Yamakasa Decorated Floats will be displayed around the city. 12th Oiyama Narashi（Practice run for the final race on the 15th）Start at 3:59 PM 13th Shudan Yamamise（Kakiyamakasa floats gather at Fukuoka City Hall）Start at 3:30PM 15th Oiyamakasa Start at 4:59AM
Early July to Late August	Swimming Pools and Beach Opening
Mid-July to Late September	Marine World Uminonakamichi “Night Aquarium” [Marine World Uminonakamichi]

Autumn in Fukuoka brings Hojoe, a festival held at Hakozaki Shrine.
Asian Month, held from September to November, and Hakata Akihaku are also autumn features of Fukuoka. The former is an event where you can meet and get the feel of Asia. The latter is a series of events including festivals with an authentic Japanese atmosphere held at shrines and temples in the Hakata area.
If you are more into nature, Nokonoshima island in Hakata Bay is a great place where you can enjoy cosmos blossoms. And also the Japanese gardens Yusentei and Rakusui-en are recommended as they provide a beautiful sight of red and yellow autumn leaves.
The Grand Sumo Kyushu Tournament is held in Fukuoka for 15 days from mid-November. It is a great chance to see Sumo, the traditional sport of Japan.
Come visit Fukuoka in autumn and enjoy the beautiful scenery and festivals.

CALENDAR

Sep

 

September	Fukuoka Music Month
Mid-September	Nakasu Jazz [Around Nakasu]
Mid-September to Mid-October	Asian Party [Around the Tenjin and Hakata Area] ※The Creators
12th thru 18th	Hojoya [Hakozaki Shrine]

Oct

Early to Mid-October	Best Season for Viewing Cosmos Flowers [Nokonoshima Island and other viewing spots in the city]
October	Nakasu Festival [Around Nakasu] ※Girls carry a portable shrine throughout the city; a bar-hopping competition and other events are held.
Late October	Oktober Fest [Around Reisen Park] ※Real German beers gather around

Nov

Early November	Fukuoka Marathon [Start at Tenjin Intersection]
Early to Late November	Best Season for Viewing Autumn Leaves [Yusentei Park and other viewing spots in the city]
Mid-November to Late November	Grand Sumo November Tournament [Fukuoka Convention Center]
Mid-November to Mid-January	Christmas Illumination [Around the city]

Fukuoka is a part of the southern island of Japan and you may think it is a warm place. Actually, the cold breeze from the Japan Sea makes it snow sometimes.
The city of Fukuoka is illuminated with Christmas decorations and filled with a lively atmosphere from late-November to Christmas day.
New year’s visit to the shrine（1st – 3rd of January）that people make their wishes for the new year, attracts many worshippers to the shines, including Kushida Shrine, Sumiyoshi Shrine and Hakozaki Shrine. Visit there in the New Year. The New Year opening sale and bargains are held from January 2nd at the shopping facilities and areas in the city such as Tenjin and Hakata Station. A discount is applied to all sorts of items, mostly outfits, making it a great opportunity for shopping at low prices at this time of the year.
Moreover, two festivals are held in January at Toka Ebisu Shrine and in February at Kushida Shrine. At Toka Ebisu festival you can pray for business success, and at the Setsubun festival, Tochoji Temple invites happiness and tells us when spring has come. Both are unique Japanese festivals and will give you a lot of fun!

CALENDAR

Dec

The First Sunday	Fukuoka International Marathon [Starts at Heiwadai Athletic Stadium]
Early December	Hakata Odori（dance performance by geisha） [Hakataza Theater] ※All geishas in Hakata will appear on stage.

Jan

3rd	Tamaseseri [Hakozaki Shrine] ※Groups of shrine parishioners compete to get a wooden ball to divine the year’s fortune.
8th thru 11th	Toka Ebisu New Year’s Grand Festival [Toka Ebisu Shrine] ※A large new-year festival for prosperous business and good luck in the family
Late January to Mid-March	Best Season for Viewing Plum Blossoms [Maizuru Park and other viewing spots in the city, Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine]
Late January to Mid-March	Sake Brewery Opening [Hakata Hyakunengura and other viewing spots in the city] ※New sake tasting and other events will be held at breweries.

Feb

3rd	Setsubun Festival [Kushida Shrine / Tochoji and other viewing spots in the city]
Late March to Early April	Best Season for Viewing Field Mustard Flowers [Nokonoshima Island and other viewing spots in the city]