Hakata Dontaku

What Is Hakata Dontaku?

Hakata Dontaku is a festival representative of the Golden Week holidays, held each year on 3 and 4 May in Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture. Formally called the "Fukuoka Citizens' Festival: Hakata Dontaku Port Festival," it is known as one of Japan's most heavily attended festivals, drawing more than two million spectators over its two days. Citizens form "Dontaku troupes" in costumes of their own choosing and parade through the streets clapping rice scoops (shamoji)—a lively festival in which the whole city takes part.

History and Origins

The origins of Hakata Dontaku trace back to the "Hakata Matsubayashi," said to have continued since the end of the Heian period. The Matsubayashi was a New Year event in which people dressed as the lucky gods Ebisu and Daikoku paraded through the streets to celebrate the New Year and bestow blessings. The name "Dontaku" is said to derive from the Dutch word "Zondag," meaning holiday. Although it was banned for a time in the Meiji era, it was revived by the citizens and, after the war, developed into its current form as "Dontaku." Today it is cherished as a festival in which the citizens of Fukuoka take the leading role.

Highlights

The greatest attraction is the parade of the "Dontaku troupes" formed by citizens. Companies, organizations, and community groups take part in costumes and stagings of their own ingenious design, parading through various parts of the city—centered on "Dontaku Square" (Meiji-dōri), where the main stage stands—while clapping rice scoops. The traditional lucky gods Ebisu and Daikoku of the Hakata Matsubayashi also appear, allowing visitors to enjoy varied performances that blend history and the present. On stages set up throughout the city, various groups present songs and dances, wrapping the whole city in a festive mood.

When It Takes Place

The festival is held each year on 3 and 4 May during Golden Week in central Fukuoka City (Dontaku Square on Meiji-dōri and various other places throughout the city). As a spring festival, its season is spring. Because the dates and venues of the parade and stages vary from year to year, visitors are advised to confirm details in advance through official announcements from Fukuoka City and the organizers of Hakata Dontaku.

Access

The area around Meiji-dōri, the main venue, can be reached from stations such as Tenjin Station and Nakasu-Kawabata Station on the Fukuoka City Subway Kūkō Line and Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin) Station. Located in central Fukuoka, it is easily accessible by subway from Hakata Station and Fukuoka Airport. As tremendous crowds are expected during the festival, public transport is strongly recommended.

Around the Area

Fukuoka, the largest city in Kyushu, is a gourmet city known for its downtown areas centered on Hakata and Tenjin and for its food-stall (yatai) culture. Visitors can enjoy local specialties such as Hakata ramen, motsunabe hotpot, and mentaiko. There are also abundant sights, including temples and shrines that convey the history of Hakata such as Kushida Shrine and Jōten-ji, and the ruins of Fukuoka Castle and Ōhori Park. In addition to Hakata Dontaku, the Hakata Gion Yamakasa is held in summer, and as a city where festival culture is deeply rooted, it is an area where one can savor the history, cuisine, and festivals of Fukuoka.

← Explore More Festivals