Featured Events in Kitakyushu in 2025 (November Updated)

The Kitakyushu Pop Festival (KPF) began in 2014 with the theme of "Making Kitakyushu a Pop Culture Mecca." Now celebrating its tenth anniversary, it has grown into one of Kyushu's largest anime festivals. This year, we'll once again offer two days of fun filled with pop culture charm, including stage performances by a stellar voice actor lineup, anime booths, game experiences, merchandise sales, a cosplay area, and more.

The Kanmon Strait Candlelight Night event is held at the Mojiko Retro Shopping Center in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, and the Karato area in Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, two adjacent locations separated by the Kanmon Strait. Originally held in Moji Ward, Kitakyushu City, the event was later expanded to Shimonoseki City on the other side and is now held annually, making it a rare event where candles are lit simultaneously in two cities. Each venue is decorated with exquisite candles, creating a dreamlike atmosphere unlike any other. On Candlelight Night, the nostalgic Mojiko Harbor will be illuminated by candlelight. Light shows and illumination events will also be held, with various lights decorating the autumn night sky.

The "Kokura Light Show" illuminates the winter streets of Kokura. Major shops, shopping districts, and businesses gather to adorn the heart of Kokura with vibrant lights, including the area around Kokura Station and the banks of the Murasaki River. During the light show, various events are held nearby, making it a beloved winter tradition in Kitakyushu City. A stroll through the streets allows one to feel the festive atmosphere, warming the hearts of families, couples, and friends. Note: Photos show past events. Designs and scale may vary.

An exhibition will be held to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Watase Seizo, an artist associated with Kitakyushu and honorary director of the Manga Museum. Since his debut in 1974, Watase has continued to draw colorful worlds. The exhibition will feature all 24 of his recently completed “Tokyo Koyomi” and “Kyo Koyomi,” which depict long-distance romances set in Tokyo and Kyoto, as well as “Heart Cocktail” and rare manga manuscripts and materials from his pre “Heart Cocktail” nonsense manga days. Please come and see the trajectory of Watase Seizo.

The Rose Festival aims to be the most beautiful rose festival in Japan. About 510 varieties and 3,100 roses will bloom, creating a spectacular sight with the most roses in the year. [Major events] ・Food Truck Food Festival (May 10th and 11th) ・Night Rose Garden (May 16th, 17th, 18th, 23rd, 24th and 25th) ・Flower and Plant Workshop (May 17th, 18th, 23rd and 24th) ・Stage performance by comedian Yoshio Kojima (May 31st) ・Melted Cheese Festival (June 7th and 8th)

Yamada Ryokuchi will extend its opening hours to coincide with the firefly viewing season and will host the 2025 Yamada Firefly Festival. The nine-day "Special Guided Firefly Discovery Tour" will be held throughout, and advance registration is required. You can listen to the guide's explanation while observing the Genji and Heike fireflies that inhabit Yamada Ryokuchi.

The Wakamatsu Hydrangea Festival aims to promote the charm of Takatoyama City, which has the largest number of hydrangeas in the prefecture (approximately 74,700 plants), to both the city and beyond, and to inject vitality into Wakamatsu City. (The event began in 1999, and this year marks the 27th anniversary.) Takatoyama’s mountain hydrangeas bloom from late May to early June each year, and its western hydrangeas bloom in mid-June. This year’s Hydrangea Festival will have a branch venue event on June 1 (Sunday) when the mountain hydrangeas are in bloom, and a main venue event on June 8 (Sunday) and June 15 (Sunday) when the western hydrangeas are in bloom.

Please show your "Reserved Name+Reserved Phone Number+Trip Order Page(not a screenshot)" to pick up your ticket(s). Ticket pick-up address: West Japan General Exhibition Center AnnexMain Entrance Gate. Ticket pick-up time: On the day of the show.16:00-19:00(JST)on 7thJune；14:00-17:00(JST)on 8thJune(JST). Latecomers will not be able to pick up ticket(s) and enter the venue. The Korean pop girl group LE SSERAFIM has announced their new world tour2025 LE SSERAFIM TOUR 'EASY CRAZY HOT'! This tour serves as the grand finale of their mini-album trilogy, which includesEASY(released in February 2024),CRAZY(August 2024), and the upcomingHOT(March 14, 2025). The trilogy highlights the group’s evolution and musical diversity, making the tour exceptionally special. LE SSERAFIM aims to spread joy and encourage fans to live in the moment through this tour, promising an unforgettable and thrilling experience. The highly anticipated"EASY CRAZY HOT"Fukuoka concert will take place at West Japan General Exhibition Center, New Building, from June 7 to 8, 2025.

The Gion Festival, held by the clan members of Kasuga Shrine, Okada Shrine, and Ichinomiya Shrine, has a history of more than 400 years. Gorgeous puppets decorated with yamakasa run in the Kurosaki area. The scene of bravely carrying the yamakasa to the sound of taiko and conch shells in the Gion music is called "Battle of the Yamakasa", and the "Rotation Exercise" where the floats decorated with electric decorations are pulled vigorously is even more breathtaking.