Fukuoka festivals: Hakata Dontaku, Yamakasa, Hojoya and Okunchi

Review recurring Fukuoka festival dates and official 2026 schedules for Hakata Dontaku, Gion Yamakasa, Hojoya and Okunchi, including notices still pending for 2027.

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  • Fukuoka
  • Hakata
  • Festivals

This page is updated every year at the same address. Please note the last checked date.

Fukuoka has several annual festivals worth knowing: Hakata Dontaku in spring, Hakata Gion Yamakasa in summer, and Hojoya and Hakata Okunchi in autumn. This page lists their regular dates and most recent official schedules. Organisers publish detailed times each year; years without an announcement are marked “Not yet announced”. For more information, see the Fukuoka travel guide.

Key points

Festival Dates Notes
Hakata Dontaku Port Festival () Every 3 to 4 May Official description: held during Golden Week each year
Hakata Gion Yamakasa () 1 to 15 July The climactic Oiyama begins at 4:59 early on 15 July
Hojoya () 12 to 18 September A sacred palanquin procession is held in odd-numbered years
Hakata Okunchi () Late October 22 to 24 October 2026, with the main festival on 23 October

Information for 2027

Organisers had not yet announced detailed schedules for the 2027 festivals. This page will be updated when they are published:

  • Hakata Dontaku: official information says it takes place on 3 and 4 May each year; the 2027 timetable has not yet been announced.
  • Hakata Gion Yamakasa: 1 to 15 July each year; the 2027 timetable has not yet been announced.
  • Hojoya: 12 to 18 September; 2027 is an odd-numbered year. The official explanation states that the sacred procession takes place in odd years (Okudari on 12 September and Onobori on 14 September), but detailed times have not yet been announced.
  • Hakata Okunchi: 2027 dates have not yet been announced.

Hakata Dontaku Port Festival

Official introduction: originating from the Matsubayashi ceremony in 1179, this is one of Fukuoka’s representative festivals and attracts more than 2 million people annually. There are stages and squares at about 41 locations in the city. The main venue, Dontaku Square, is along Meiji-dori between Gofukumachi and Tenjin.

2026 schedule (official reference information)

Date Event
Saturday, 2 May Eve festival 17:00 to 20:30
Sunday, 3 May (holiday) Parade 13:05 to 19:00 (scheduled)
Monday, 4 May (holiday) Parade 14:05 to 19:00 (scheduled); group dance 17:50 to 18:20

No tourist grandstand seating was provided in 2026.

Hakata Gion Yamakasa

Held from 1 to 15 July. The following is the official 2026 schedule:

Date Event
1 July Shimenawashiroshi and Gojin-ire (decorative Yamakasa floats displayed)
9 July All teams perform Oshioitori
10 July Nagaregaki (each team carries its float within its district; routes are not announced)
12 July Oiyama Narashi 15:59
13 July Shudan Yamakasa Mise 15:30 (Meiji-dori between Gofukumachi and Tenjin)
15 July Oiyama 4:59 (approximately 5 km within Hakata; Shizume no Noh performance at Kushida Shrine from 6:00)
  • The official website also provides traffic-restriction information; check it before visiting during Yamakasa.
  • According to the official explanation, Nagaregaki times and routes differ each year and are not announced in advance. Enquire with the people involved in each team.
  • For spectator grandstand seating, the official website directs enquiries to Kushida Shrine: 092-291-2951.

Hojoya

Hakozaki Shrine () holds the festival every year for seven days and seven nights, from 12 to 18 September. The official introduction states:

  • Alongside Hakata Dontaku and Hakata Gion Yamakasa, it is one of Hakata’s three major festivals, with around 1 million visitors over the event.
  • Hundreds of stalls line the approach to the shrine.
  • Odd-numbered years feature the sacred procession: Okudari from 18:00 on 12 September and Onobori from 19:00 on 14 September.
  • 2026 is an even-numbered year and has no sacred procession.

Hakata Okunchi

This autumn grand festival at Kushida Shrine has a history of about 1,200 years according to official information, and is described as one of Japan’s three major Kunchi festivals. 2026 schedule:

Date Event
Thursday, 22 October Hamamiya Festival; Sentomyo lantern offering (from evening); harvest fair
Friday, 23 October Autumn grand festival 11:00 (main rite); Sentomyo; harvest fair
Saturday, 24 October Sacred procession (Okunchi Parade) 14:00 to 17:00 (scheduled)
  • Complimentary amazake is served on 23 October from 10:00 to 15:00, while supplies last.
  • Sentomyo takes place in the evenings of 22 and 23 October, even in light rain.

Before travelling

  • Festival times are announced each year. “Scheduled” times may change, so check the organiser’s official website before departure.
  • Hakata can be crowded and subject to traffic restrictions during festivals. Allow extra time. For city travel, see the Fukuoka transport guide.
  • If the time you want to attend overlaps with other events, check Fukuoka City’s official tourism site, Yokanavi.

Further reading

Sources