Fukuoka's Hakata Dontaku Port Festival Opens

May 03, 2024 | News On Japan

FUKUOKA - During the Golden Week holidays, the "Hakata Dontaku Port Festival," known for attracting the largest number of visitors nationwide, has commenced. Blessed with clear weather, the city of Fukuoka is completely enveloped in the festive spirit.

A reporter at the scene stated, "Today marks the opening of the Hakata Dontaku Port Festival. The main street is alive with people in colorful costumes performing various acts."

This year, the festival expects about 26,000 participants over two days, adding a vibrant touch to the streets of Fukuoka.

The main venue stretches approximately 1,270 meters from Watanabe Street to Tenjin.

An audience member shared, "I really enjoy the parade—it's like a mix of highlights and marching bands."

The reporter added, "Special spectator seats, which allow a premium view of the parade, have been installed for the first time in five years."

Around 400 seats have been set up in the Suikoen (Water Park), which allow re-entry and provide a full day's entertainment.

While advance tickets are sold out, there are a limited number of tickets available on the day.

A young girl commented, "It's fun with so many people around."

A man on a solo assignment in Fukuoka said, "I came here once 20 years ago, but I really wanted to show it to my family." His son added, "I don't really see what's fun about it." The man replied, "He's honest."

No worries! With an expected turnout of 2 million people, a variety of opinions are welcome.

This year's festival subtitle, created by elementary school students, is "Deliver! Festival Smiles and Energy!!"

Source: KBC

Typhoon No. 15 Disrupts Obon Travel as ANA Cancels 58 Flights

Typhoon No. 15 (Chan-hom) began causing significant disruption to Japan's Obon holiday travel on August 11, with ANA canceling 58 flights serving Haneda and Narita airports, JAL canceling four flights, and JR East suspending some services on the Joban Line as the storm approached eastern Japan.

Typhoon No. 15 Set to Make Landfall in Kanto Tonight

Typhoon No. 15 (Chan-hom) is expected to make landfall near Ibaraki Prefecture between around 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. on August 11, bringing rapidly strengthening winds, high waves and heavy rain to parts of Kanto and southern Tohoku, with unsettled weather potentially continuing even after the storm moves inland.

H3 Rocket No. 9 Successfully Launches Japan GPS Satellite

Japan's H3 Rocket No. 9 successfully placed the Michibiki No. 7 navigation satellite into its planned orbit after lifting off from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture at 4:23 a.m. on August 11, marking the country's second consecutive successful H3 launch.

Tokaido Shinkansen Runs First Overnight Service

The Tokaido Shinkansen operated its first overnight service ahead of the Obon holiday period, offering travelers a 15,000 yen trip from the Tokyo area to Kyoto and Shin-Osaka while allowing them to save on hotel costs and arrive earlier than the first regular morning trains.

Typhoon No. 15 to Disrupt Travel on August 11

Typhoon No. 15 is expected to approach and likely make landfall somewhere in the Kanto region on August 11, bringing strong winds and heavy rain that could disrupt conventional rail services, expressways and flights while also affecting a wider area extending into Tohoku.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Travel NEWS

Tokaido Shinkansen Runs First Overnight Service

Lake Biwa Fireworks Event Abruptly Canceled Over Missing Permits

A fireworks festival that had been promoted as a simultaneous display of more than 10,000 fireworks across three cities on Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture was abruptly canceled on August 9, with organizers having failed to submit applications for permits required to hold the event.

Nara's Deer Population Hits Record High

Nara Park's famous deer are increasingly spilling into residential areas and farmland as their population reaches a record high, creating new problems for residents even as the animals remain a major attraction for visitors to the ancient capital.

Inside Universe Club: Japan's Best-Known Sugar Dating Club

Japan's dating scene has its own vocabulary, its own etiquette, and — for the arrangement style commonly known abroad as sugar dating — its own dedicated clubs.

Akihabara Maids Join Traditional Water-Sprinkling Event

Maids from Akihabara maid cafes joined shrine maidens from Kanda Myojin and members of the public on August 8 to sprinkle water across the shrine grounds in Tokyo, calling out "Cool down!" as they took part in a summer tradition aimed at easing the midsummer heat.