Countless Lights Envelope the Streets of Hakata in the Glow of Autumn

The gentle flickering of the paper lanterns helps to create some of Hakata’s quintessential fall scenery. An old autumn tradition, the “Thousand Lights” come together and add beauty to the season.

With a history of roughly 300 years in Hakata, the “Sentoumyou” or “Thousand Lights Festival” brings together tens of thousands of paper lanterns to the streets, creating mystical and fantastical scenery. 

The denizens of Hakata set these small lanterns throughout the streets, parks, and even shopping malls of the city, making them radiant and glowing after the sun has set. Using the street as a canvas, pieces that are over 80 meters in diameter are a treat for the eyes, and in all of these places the gentle flickering of the candlelight in each of the lanterns produces a soothing tranquility. 

We invite you to Hakata to experience the gentle beauty of these lights this autumn. We hope you will enjoy this beauty that comes but once a year.

Traditional Hakata Festival [Sentoumyou] (Thousand Lights)

The “Thousand Lights” originates in a ritual carried out by children from summer until the beginning of autumn. Taking a string made from wound-up paper, the children fill it with oil before setting them alight on a small plate or piece of bamboo. They are intended to pray for the safety and security of the household. 

The “Hakata Toumyou Lantern Arts Festival” takes this tradition and arranges those lights into art pieces that illuminate and beautify the streets with their presence.

The best places to see the lights

It almost goes without saying, but the best part of this festival are the lights themselves. Like the tradition this viewing is based on, practically all of these paper lanterns use real candlelight. The flame is placed inside a paper cup wrapped in traditional Japanese paper, or washi, for a simple, mystical, and delicate effect.

The lamp art can be found throughout temples and shrines in the Gokusho, Reisen, Ohama, and Naraya areas, but also on the wider grounds of the Hakata Elementary School and Kushida Shrine, where you will find larger and more elaborate displays. 

This event is a special opportunity to see Hakata decked out in its fall colors. We hope you will be able to come and enjoy the sights.

Locations (throughout Hakata area)

・Near the Hakata Riverain Building [Hakata Riverain Illumination]
・JR Hakata Station – Hakata Sennenmon [The Illuminated Roadmap]
・Ohama area [The Future of this Town is with Children] 
・Reisen (Kushida Shrine) area [The Crane of Reisen]
・Naraya area [Commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the Hakata Port Tower]
・Gokusho area [Dragon] 

The lamp lighting will take place as the above locations. There will also be rest spots, toilets, and information desks set up throughout the area so please use them at your leisure.

NOTE: Unauthorized use of “drones” and other unmanned aircraft, etc., in or around the venue, including the flying, operating, flying, or photographing of such aircraft is strictly prohibited. We ask for your cooperation in preventing accidents.

Access:

Naraya Aarea
　From Hakata Station (approx. 30 min. walk)
　Take Nishitetsu Bus and get off at Kuramoto bus stop.
　From Tenjin area
　Nishitetsu Bus: Get off at Kuramoto bus stop on Showa Street.
Ohama area
　From Hakata Station (approx. 35 min. walk)
　Nishitetsu Bus: Get off at Kamiyacho bus stop.
　From Tenjin area
　Nishitetsu Bus: Get off at Ishijo-machi bus stop on Nanotsu Street.
Gokusho area
　From Hakata Station (approx. 25 min. on foot)
　Nishitetsu Bus: Get off at Gion bus stop.　
　Get off at Gion Station on the Fukuoka City Subway.
　From Tenjin area
　Nishitetsu Bus: Get off at Midoribashi bus stop on Kokutai Road
　Get off at Gofukumachi Station on the Fukuoka City Subway.
Reisen (Kushida Shrine) area
　From Hakata Station (approx. 20 min. walk)
　Get off at Nishitetsu Bus Okunodo bus stop.
　Get off at Kushida Shrine Station or Gion Station of Fukuoka City Subway.
　From Tenjin area
　Nishitetsu Bus: Get off at Canal City Hakata bus stop on Kokutai Road
　Get off at Kushida Shrine station of Fukuoka City Subway.
Hakata Riverain
　From Hakata Station
　Get off at Nakasu Kawabata Station on the Fukuoka City Subway.
　Get off at “Kawabatamachi/Hakata-za-mae” bus stop on Meiji-dori Street by Nishitetsu Bus.
　From Tenjin area
　Get off at Nakasu Kawabata Station on the Fukuoka City Subway.
　Get off at Kawabatamachi/Hakataza bus stop on Meiji-dori Street by Nishitetsu Bus.