Japan is famous for its traditional festivals, most of which involve parades, dancing, and performances. Every prefecture has its own festivals, and Kumamoto is no exception. If you are in Kumamoto between September and November, look out for the following autumn festivals.
Fujisaki Hajimangu Festival
One of the biggest Kumamoto festivals in the autumn calendar is the festival of the Fujisaki Hachimangu Shrine, which is a Shinto festival that runs for five days in September. The main event is a series of parades that take place on the last day. The first parade is a procession of portable shrines, the second a re-enactment of samurai, and the third involves Shinto priests riding decorated horses chased by their followers.
The last of the three parades has been controversial for a couple of reasons. One is because the followers chasing the horses shout “boshita, boshita”, believed to originate from the phrase “horoboshita” – meaning “Japan destroyed Korea”. As this is upsetting to those of Korean descent, the cry has been changed to “dookai, dookai” since 1990. Another controversy relates to the nature of the chase, which relates to a Buddhist ritual of releasing animals to the fields (later adopted by Shintos). Some believe that the chasing of horses is unnecessary and cruel, and have campaigned to get the ritual adapted.
Website: https://ohmatsuri.com/en/articles/fujisaki-hachimangu-grand-festival
Kumamoto Castle Autumn Festival
Kumamoto Castle is the landmark of the city as well as the site of several small festivals. Every October, it holds the Castle Festival, consisting of various performances and delicious local treats on sale from food stalls. There are slightly different events each year, although the highlight is invariably the evening taiko performance (just as the sun begins to set) that involves a large number of drummers. Depending on the year, there may also be concerts, martial arts performances, Noh theater, dancing, and traditional arts. There are sometimes also interactive events, such as quizzes, tea ceremonies, and the chance to try on kimono.
Website: https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/450/
Yabusame Festival
The Yabusame Festival occurs in the Shinto calendar twice every year, in March and November at the Izumo Iwai Shrine. Yabusame is a mounted archery ritual that has existed for more than 950 years. The archers are boys around the age of 15 who undergo hours of training to be able to shoot an arrow from a galloping horse. The boys and the horses wear traditional costumes, adding to the spectacle.
Website: https://www.gltjp.com/en/directory/item/11482/
Tamana Fireworks Festival
This annual fireworks spectacular is the largest display in the northern Kumamoto prefecture area, taking place in the town of Tamana close to the Kikuchi river. The event attracts up to 100,000 spectators and involves around 5,000 fireworks, including a popular music-synchronized display. The 2025 event will take place on Saturday, the 4th of October.
Website: https://www.tamana-cci.or.jp/festivals_events/hanabi/
Street Art-plex
You can visit the Street-Art plex in Kumamoto any time of the year, but there’s also a big annual event in October. Eight stages are set up at various downtown places where you can find different performances. You can just wander around and catch all sorts of shows, from jazz musicians and theater performances to jugglers and calligraphers.
Website: https://artplex.jp/
Since each of the above festivals is entirely unique, it’s worth trying to attend all of them if you’ll be in Kumamoto throughout autumn. They’re a great way to experience something of the local culture in beautiful natural surroundings.
Adriano, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
