We will introduce the events held in February that we want to recommend. Especially, the Setsubun is one of Japanese traditional custom that held in spring season. At the first sight, you might be confused that people picked up the beans thrown, it is fun. There are another enjoyable events that we can attend with our children, and that we can enjoy full nature of Kyushu.
Traditional Festival
１.＜Fukuoka＞ Setsubun Yakuyoke Omatsuri（Dazaifu Tenmangu）
** – Feb. 3rd in 2018**
source: yokanavi
The Setsubun Yakuyoke Festival held in Dazaifu Tenmangu is for avoidance of Bad Luck for a year. The blue and red Oni (ogres) will show up in the festival. It is old and Japanese original tradition. The Oni stands for the evil in Japan. People throw beans to ward off the evil spirit and invite the good luck in. In this Dazaifu Tenmangu, we can get the Good-luck beans and Japanese fan, and Hyotan Sake will be given to raise the good luck. Dazaifu Tenmangu has strong relation with Michizane Sugawara who is known as the god of study. He is a man of noble in Heian era (in around 845) and known as an intellectual. So this shrine is always crowded with students and the people who are learning something.
Schedule
・Feb. 2nd
Access & Address
・Place: Dazaifu Tenmangu
・The name of closest station, and the time required from the closest station to the destination and means of traffic.
About 5 min walk from Nishitetsu Railway Dazaifu Station.
About 40 min by train from Fukuoka Airport.
・Address: 4-7-1, Dazai, Dazaifu-shi, Fukuoka.
・Map
Price & Reservation
Free.
No need to reserve.
300 yen will be cost when you enter the Houbutsuden (Sanctuary).
Official Website
http://www.dazaifutenmangu.or.jp/
2. Kirishima Jingu Setsubun Mamemaki Event – Feb. 3rd in 2018
source: kirishima-kankou
This is the event represents for the Setsubun in Kyushu district. Setsubun is the Japanese traditional event to welcome the new spring, and held at several parts of Japan. Kirishima Jingu is the one of them. After the traditional Setsubun festival, people throw beans to ward off the evil spirit and invite the good luck in. We will get the small plastic bag includes about 10 beans in the festival, when we found the small piece of paper with writing the free gift’s name on, we will get the gift such as bottle of water and TV. This is based on the old custom that we are given a good luck by the got, and it’s said to be the local culture only in Setsubun season.
Schedule
・Date and Time
Feb. 3rd 15:00 pm ～
Access & Address
・Place: Kirishima Jingu
・The name of closest station
10 min by JR Nippo Main Line, Kirishima jingu Station Bus.
45min by bus from Kagoshima Airport.
・Address: 2608-5, Kirishima Taguchi, Kirishima-shi, kagoshima
・Map
Price & Reservation
Free.
No need to reserve.
Official Website
http://www.kirishimajingu.or.jp/index.html
Traditional Festival.
3. Nagasaki Lantern Festival – Feb. 16th ～ Mar. 4th in 2018.
Nagasaki Lantern Festival is popular winter festival that held in Kyushu district. As many as about 1,000,000 people attend this festival every year. It used to be the event for celebration of Lunar New Year in Nagasaki Chinese Town, and has been gradually getting popular winter event that represents Nagasaki after it had been illuminated with Chinese style Lantern since about 1994. The Chinese style Lanterns used in this festival has been more than 15000, and some sculptures shaped in monkey, dragon and human are displayed. A large-sized one is as huge as 10m. There are full of foreign atmosphere when the city is illuminated with lanterns. It is popular event among not only Japanese but also foreign tourists.
Schedule
・Date and Time
Feb. 16th ～ Mar. 4th
17:00 pm ～ 22:00 pm
Maso-Gyoretsu: Feb. 18th and 25th
Emperor Parade: Feb. 17th and 24th
Access & Address
・Place: Nagasaki Shinchi Chinese Town・Central Park Plaza
About 2 min walk from Shiden Tsukimachi Dentei to Shinchi Chinese Town.
About 10 min walk from Shiden Tsukimachi Dentei to Central Park.
About 120 min by train from Hakata Station (Fukuokoa)
・Address: Shinchi-machi, Nagasaki-shi, Nagasaki
・Map
Price & Reservation
Basically free, but some parts in Koushibyo would cost.
Official Website
https://www.at-nagasaki.jp/festival/lantern/
4. Tenryo Hida Ohina Festival – Feb. 15th ～ Mar. 31st in 2018
There is the tradition that we display Hina dolls on Mar. 3rd (the girl’s festival) to pray for the happiness of the girl born in each house. And after these Hina dolls finished their duty on that day, they will be gotten together and displayed. It has been displayed for more than 30 years in the city and old houses. It is called Tenryoda Hina Festival. The name, Tenryo is come from the fact that the governmental important position used to be there more than 200 years ago. Hita is one of the flourished city in Kyushu district and townsmen culture still remains. There are many historical looks of the houses and stores in the town. With displayed Hina dolls, we can enjoy the atmosphere. We can also enjoy various kinds of Hina dolls. Some have precious nationwide tradition, some are made from papers and cloths and called Okiage Hina that has local-only tradition. During this Hina dolls festival terms, we can visit Kusano Honke that is old house designated as natonal important cultural property.
Schedule
Feb. 15th ～ Mar. 31st
Kusano Honke: Open to the public during same terms as the Hina festival.
Hina Tour with wearing Japanese Kimono: Mar. 4th, 5th, 11th, 12th.
Access & Address
・Place: At each 20 locations including such as Kusano Honke.
・The name of closest station, and the time required from the closest station to the destination and means of traffic.
About 7 min by car from JR Hita Station.
・The name of city terminal Station, and the time required to reach the location from the terminal station.
About 100 min by limited express train from JR Oita Station to Hita Station.
・Address: Mamedamachi, Hita-shi, Oita
・Map
Price & Reservation
Basically free, but tour to Kusano Honke needs 550 yen.
You should prepare 2,000 yen if you want tour with wearing Japanese Kimono.
Only dressing service requires 500 yen.
Official Website
http://www.city.hita.oita.jp/soshiki/shokokankobu/kankoka/kankokikaku/kanko/2543.html
Modern Art Event.
5. Yamaga Toro Roman ・Hyakkahyakusai – Each Friday and Saturday of Feb. 2nd ～24th in 2018.
source: yamaga-tanbou
Yamaga Toro Roman ・Hyakkahyakusai is the light event held in winter season by 6 prefectures of Kyushu district. Sanga used to be famous for Japanese umbrella. So they hold this event with light and Japanese umbrella in old-good memory. There is so dream-like atmosphere created by retro houses and stores in the city, and glimmer of the lanterns. The bamboo monument is also displayed aside from Japanese umbrella. At the Yachiyoza, there are performance of Sanga drum and Toro dance according to the Sanga Fuzei Story. In addition, there is food booth that serves hot foods and acoustic live show will be held at Sakura Roman’s Japanese room on Buzen Street.
Schedule
・Date and Time: Feb. 2nd ～ 24th
Access & Address
・Place: Sanga Hot Spring
・The name of closest station, and the time required from the closest station to the destination and means of traffic.
About 72 min by Sanga Bus from Fukuoka Airport.
・Address: 510-2, Chuo Dori, Sanga-shi, Kumamoto
・Map
Price & Reservation
Basically free, but Sanga Fuzei Story requires 1000 yen for adult.
Official Website
http://yamaga100.com/event.htm
6. Ureshi No Attaka Festival – Jan. 27th ～ Feb. 12th in 2018
source:spa-u
Ureshino is famous as beauty skin hot spring. This hot spring has kind of little thick on our skin. Many people have become a fan of this hot spring saying like they got more beauty on their skin. Ureshino Attaka Festival has kept their history for 16 years here. They made an icon of white lantern known as god of beauty of white skin, and display it in the hot spring’s building. In addition, they are displaying some motifs that has a theme of light at each location of the Ureshino City. There are some booth where we can enjoy something hot to eat such as Onsen Yudofu, Onsen Eggs, and Satsumaimo. These could be have even while we are going around. Besides, we can stop by each hot spring hotel and get into a hot spring. This style is very famous and popular here.
Schedule
・Date and Time
Jan. 28th ～ Feb. 12th
Access & Address
・Place: around the Ureshino Hot Spring Town.
・The name of closest station, and the time required from the closest station to the destination and means of traffic.
About 30 walk from JR Takeo Onsen Station.
About 80 min by bus from Fukuoka to Ureshino city.
・Address: Ureshino Onsen, Ureshino-shi, Saga
・Map
Price & Reservation
Free. No need to reserve.
Official Website
The Event that we can enjoy with our children.
7. Yanagawa Hina Festival – Sagemon Meguri – Feb. 11th ～Apr. 3rd in 2018
source: welcomekyushu
Yanagawa Onsen in Fukuoka is the area that closely related with waterway run throughout around the castle. In the festival named Sagemon Meguri, a lot of boats run across on the waterway. There is old tradition that they display Hina dolls with kind of hanging ornaments named Sagemon. Generally, each family’s parents make Sagemon by themselves for the good growth of their girl. They display it beside of Hina dolls and show it to tourists. This is the Yanagawa Hina Festical – Sagemon Meguri. On the water parade held on Mar. 18th, small girls will get on each boats with wearing Chigo ornament. Not only just see it as a tourist, but also let your children attend the festival, both is enjoyable with this Japanese traditional atmosphere and the cutie of the girls.
Schedule
・Date and Time
Feb. 11th ～ Apr. 3rd
Ohinasama Water Parade will be held on Mar. 18th
Access & Address
・Place: Yanagawa-shi, Fukuoka
・Get off the Nishitetsu Omuta Train at Yanagawa Station.
About 50 min by bus from Saga.
About 50 min by Nishitetsu Train from Fukuoka.
・Address: 35, Okinohata, Yanagawa-shi, Fukuoka
・Map
Price & Reservation
Free
Official Website
http://www.yanagawa-net.com/sagemon.html
Nature Event
9.Miyakoh Botanic Garden Aoshima（Miyazaki Aoshima subtropical Botanic Garden）Midwinter Flower Show – Jan. 1st ～ Feb. 18th in 2018
source: jalan
It’s already warm weather in south island, Miyazaki. Miyakoh Botanic Garden is the famous for the plants from Southern countries. In the Midwinter flower show, there displayed as many as 20,000 of flowers such as Stock, Pansy, and Arissamu. Even Christmas roses are specially displayed. We can also get the instruction of how to raise the Christmas roses. The big greenhouse will be renewed in 2018 and mango’s tree will be displayed. In addition, there are lots kinds of beautiful southern country’s flowers are planted along the Grass Park, traffic circle, and flowerbed.
Schedule
・Date and Time
Jan. 1st ～ Feb. 19th
Access & Address
・Place: Miyakoh Botanic Garden Aoshima
・The name of closest station, and the time required from the closest station to the destination and means of traffic.
About 01 walk from Aoshima Station.
About 40 min by car from Miyazaki Station.
・Address：1-21-1, Aoshima, Miyazaki-shi
・Map
Price & Reservation
Free. No need to reserve.
Official Website
Sports Event
10. Kumamoto Castle Malathon in 2018 – Feb. 18th in 2018
source: outinlook
It will be the 7th of Kumamoto Castle Marathon in 2018. There are 3 types of races will be performed. These are 1. History Tour Full Marathon, 2. Kanaguri Anniversary Kumanichi – 30 km Road Race, 3. Reconstruction Challenge Fan Run (3 km). This is the huge event held with help of whole city, so we can enjoy as runner, tourist, volunteer, and backer. In Kumamoto city, no-car-transportation is recommended (by train, bus, walk etc). There will be crowded with lots of people, so we could enjoy the festival atmosphere. Starting from Kumamoto City Hall, the runners head all the way to Kumamoto Castle as a goal. They could feel Kumamoto city’s attractive point while running.
Schedule
・Date: Feb. 18th
Access & Address
・Place: Kumamoto City
・The name of closest station, and the time required from the closest station to the destination and means of traffic.
・The name of city terminal Station, and the time required to reach the location from the terminal station.
・Address: Around Chuo-ku, Kumamoto-shi, Kumamoto
・Map
Price & Reservation
Free、No need to reserve.
(the runner’s entry has been already finished)