Life in Fukuoka "English"

【Hojoya】

Hōjōya is one of Fukuoka’s three major festivals and a beloved autumn tradition. It takes place at Hakozaki Shrine in Higashi Ward, Fukuoka City, every year from September 12 to 18, lasting seven days and seven nights. This festival has been passed down for over a thousand years.

It is a sacred ritual to honor and give thanks for the lives we take to survive. Many also visit the shrine to pray for things like prosperity in business or safety at home, and each year it draws approximately one million visitors.

Along the nearly one-kilometer-long approach to the shrine, you’ll find around 500 stalls, from food vendors to traditional festival games like shooting galleries and water balloon fishing, all bustling with crowds. Unique to Hōjōya are nostalgic attractions like haunted houses and curiosity show tents, which are rarely seen at festivals today.

In the past, ginger fields surrounded the area, and a custom began of bringing home fresh ginger, with the green leaves still attached, after visiting the shrine. Even today, you’ll find plenty of fresh ginger for sale. It’s the perfect time to use it to make syrup or pickled ginger and recharge your energy during the lingering summer heat. Another local favorite is the Yaki-mochi, a sweet rice cake filled with red bean paste.

You can also enjoy musical performances, including traditional Japanese taiko drumming, and a display of intricate local glass art called “Chanpon.” For a bit of luck, try the “Hato Mikuji”—a fortune slip where you’re guaranteed to win a good luck charm.

With plenty to see from morning to night, Hōjōya is a lively autumn festival packed with excitement. As you give thanks for the blessings of the season, why not head out and experience this treasured part of Fukuoka’s fall tradition?

【Fukuoka City International Foundation】

Now Accepting Participants: "Let’s Help Build a Community Together Using Easy Japanese – with a UN Official!"

The Fukuoka City International Foundation will be hosting a special workshop on city planning, led by a staff member from the United Nations Habitat Fukuoka Headquarters.

The workshop is open to students from 4th grade of elementary school to 3rd year of junior high school. It will be held on Sunday, September 28, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., in one of the conference rooms at ACROS Fukuoka. 

The UN-Habitat Fukuoka Headquarters, which carries out housing-related activities, is the only United Nations agency located in Kyushu.

In this workshop, participants will become residents of an imaginary “Habitat Village,” which has been badly damaged by heavy rain. Working together, they’ll think about ways to rebuild the community.

The workshop will be conducted using Easy Japanese, so children of foreign nationality are also warmly encouraged to join. Anyone interested in learning more about the global activities of the United Nations is welcome to join.

Participation is free, but advance registration is required.

For details on how to sign up, please visit the Fukuoka City International Foundation’s website or Facebook page.

The website address is 【www.fcif.or.jp】