Two of these festivals take place during the same weekend in November: the Tenryo Festival and Sennen Akari. These festivals together commemorate the historical significance of the city in the region.
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Tenryo Festival (日田天領祭り)
The Tenryo Festival reenacts the Edo period of Japan, when the control of the Shogunate brought prosperity to the region. During the weekend of the festival, Mameda’s streets and shops come alive with concerts, special sales, and performances. The main event during the daytime hours is the procession through Mameda of over a hundred people dressed in traditional Japanese clothing. The parade begins in the early afternoon each day.
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Sennen Akari (千年あかり)
At night, over 30,000 bamboo lights illuminate the district of Mameda as well as the banks of the Kagetsu River. Meaning “A Thousand Years of Light,” this portion of the festival was added in 2005. The gentle glow of the lights and wide array of outdoor dining options including oden (fish-broth stew), fried sweet potato, and yaki-soba come together for a relaxing nighttime atmosphere. Each morning, volunteers replace burned out candles and arrange out-of-place lights for the following evening’s display.
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Visitor Information
The festivals are held on the second weekend of November. In 2017, that will be November 10th-12th. The Tenryo Festival takes place in Mameda-machi (豆田町), while the lights for Sennen Akari are spread throughout Mameda and along the Kagetu River next to it.
Both festivals can be enjoyed in one long afternoon. However, this weekend is a great opportunity to see Hita’s surrounding areas such as Onta Pottery Village and visit the Amagase Onsen. For this reason, spending a night is also recommended.
How to Get Here
From Fukuoka City:
Highway buses leave from both Tenjin and Hakata Bus Terminals approximately every half hour. The 90 minute trip costs ¥1750.
From Oita City:
Buses leave every 1-2 hours from Oita City. The bus arrives at the Hita City highway bus stop, which is located a few kilometers from the center of town.
The JR Hita Train Station offers connections from Oita City for ¥2070, however connections are only a few times a day.
Where to Stay
Hita City has many elegant lodging options in the form of ryokan. Ryokan are Japanese style hotels with onsen baths. For a traditional Japanese experience, complete with meals and a visit to an onsen, ryokan are highly recommended.
● Hatago Kayausagi - Kotohira Cho 1529-1
● Mikuma Hotel - Kuma 1-3-19
● Hina-no-Sato Sanyokan - Kuma 1-3-8
Budget options are limited within the city, especially as prices spike dramatically during festivals and weekends. For this reason, it’s recommended to book ahead of time.
● Hotel Socia - Motomachi 17-3
● Kizantei Hotel - Kuma 1-3-10
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