Southern Kyushu’s biggest festival, which began in 1949. Over two days every year, the Yoru Matsuri (night festival) on November 2 and the Hon Matsuri (main festival) on the 3rd, about 20,000 dancers dance along Densha-dori in Tenmonkan to Ohara-bushi, Kagoshima Hanya-bushi and other folk songs.
At the Yoru Matsuri, dance groups proceed along lantern-lit streets, and an illuminated flower streetcar decorated for the festival also runs. At the Hon Matsuri, alongside the mass dancing of Ohara-bushi and Hanya-bushi by the dance groups, marching bands and dance teams (Ohara 21) join in, keeping Densha-dori lively all day.
November 2. Official information for 2026
November 3 (holiday). Official information for 2026
2025 information from the Kagoshima City Transportation Bureau. City buses are also rerouted between Takamibaba and Shiyakusho-mae during the same hours. For 2026, check the Transportation Bureau’s announcements
Times can change from year to year. Check the official website for the latest information.
Hotels around Tenmonkan and Kagoshima-Chuo Station get busy on November 2 and 3, so early booking is recommended
PR8.7
PR9.1
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PR8.4Prices and availability are shown on Agoda.
AquariumKyushu ・ Kagoshima, Sakurajima & Ibusuki
An aquarium in Honkoshin-machi, Kagoshima City, themed on Kagoshima's seas, from Kinko Bay to the Nansei Islands. It displays about 800 species, and the large Kuroshio tank with its whale shark and the dolphin programs are popular. It's about 15 minutes by streetcar from Kagoshima-Chuo Station, making it easy to drop by while sightseeing in the city.
FebruaryKyushu ・ Nagasaki
Usually around February, at the time of the Lunar New Year (Spring Festival) (17 days from February 5 to 21 in 2027)
2027: Feb 5 (Fri) – Feb 21 (Sun), 17 days
April–May
MayKyushu ・ Fukuoka & Dazaifu
Every year May 3 and 4 (eve festival on May 2)
JulyKyushu ・ Fukuoka & Dazaifu
Every year July 1–15 (the Oiyama race starts at 4:59 in the early morning of the 15th)
September
OctoberNovember–FebruaryKyushu ・ Sasebo & Huis Ten Bosch
Usually early November to late February
2026–27 season: Nov 6 (Fri) – Feb 25, 2027 (Thu)
November–FebruaryKyushu ・ Takachiho
Usually mid-November to early February the following year (dates differ by village)
NovemberKyushu ・ Karatsu, Arita & Ureshino Onsen
Every year November 2–4 (Yoiyama on the 2nd, Otabisho Shinko on the 3rd, Yokujitsu-sai town tour on the 4th)
2026: Nov 2 (Mon) – Nov 4 (Wed), 3 days
Dates, times and access are based on official and other primary sources. Only dates confirmed by official sources are shown as “Confirmed dates”; otherwise the usual timing is given.
Last checked: 2026-10-02
