Celebrate the summer at this passionate festival right in front of Hakata Station, the gateway to Kyushu!

Let’s all do the Bon Dance! The Hakata Summer Festival 2025 is now live! 

Summer is truly and well upon us, and this year the Hakata Summer Festival will once again be bringing the passion to the city streets! 

In Japan, many have a deep nostalgia for those local summer festivals where people would go out wearing their yukata robes, excitement in the air. Ears would perk up to the sounds of traditional folk songs, and a ring of people of all ages would form up and dance to the music. These images and feelings are valued deeply by the people of Japan, yet in recent years these scenes have somewhat faded into the past, becoming a distant and fondly remembered memory. 

After Hakata Gion Yamakasa ends, many are left with a slightly empty feeling in the wake of the festivities. The Hakata Summer Festival was started to help bring back the festive vibe of the Japan of yesteryear, and this year marks its 7th iteration! Featuring a Bon Odori dance, this festival is full of the spirit of summer.

At the center of the Bon Dance there is a yagura, or central scaffolding, and throughout the venue children can enjoy various activities such as yo-yo fishing and super ball scooping. Popular summer festival cuisine and yatai will also be making an appearance at the event, with children and adults both guaranteed to find something fun to eat, see, or do! Dance your hearts our around the central scaffold! 

Water will be splashed on the ground as part of the tradition of uchimizu, a way of cooling off during the summer. Shaved ice, various foods, alcohol, and soft drinks will also all be made available in addition to the yatai fare. Yo-yo fishing and super ball scooping ensure families will be able to enjoy themselves all together! The Bon Dance around the scaffold and live performances are not to be missed!

■Feel the beat of Nowadaiko’s drumming at the Bon Dance every night!
Members of the drumming troupe Nowadaiko will bring the energy and passion to the Bon Dance every night. In addition to traditional songs like Tanko-bushi, newer pop songs will be added to the line up for a bit of modern flair! 

Nowadaiko

In 1995, the Japanese drum group Nowadaiko was formed in Fukuoka City under the leadership of representative Hiromichi Nagai. Currently, the group has a total of about 90 members, with a focus on members in their teens and twenties, and is active nationwide.
The group has been invited to perform at numerous large-scale events overseas, including in Jakarta, Taiwan, and South Korea, and performs in various settings both domestically and internationally. With the slogan “Become the hero in the hearts of those who watch,” the members perform together with vigor and enthusiasm.

■A tower of lanterns illuminating the night sky.
An eight-meter-tall tower of lanterns will appear in the middle of the venue as a symbol of the festival! The sight of this pillar of light gently illuminating the venue is truly one to behold. Feel the spirit of summer as you gaze upon the magical scene. 
*In the event of poor weather conditions, the tower will be taken down.

■Yatai cuisine and festival stalls will bring the flavor!
Surrounding the venue will be stalls and yatai selling food, alcohol, and soft drinks, as well as summery classics like shaved ice. Yakisoba, takoyaki, and shaved ice are all classics of Japanese festivals and must-tries! Activities unique to festivals such as yo-yo fishing, super ball scooping, and even shooting galleries will be available for everybody in the family to enjoy. We hope to see you there, and come in a yukata if you have one! 
≫Find more information about stalls

■Stage Live Performances
Fukuoka's vibrant artists take to the stage to present various types of live performances.
≫Click here for performing artists
Please check the official website for the performance lineup and schedule.

■Uchimizu, or water splashing will help everybody cool down! (August 5th (Tuesday), 18:00)
To kick off the summer festival, the tradition of uchimizu, or splashing water on the ground to help cool down after a long summer day, will be carried out. Foreign residents of the city will be invited to take part as well! 
*August 5th, (Tuesday) 18:00~ in front of the yagura/scaffold in the center.