Kasuga City in Fukuoka Prefecture is home to the Kasuga Andon Festival, a long-running celebration of light and tradition. First held in 1977, the festival has grown into one of the city's most cherished annual events, drawing visitors to Kasuga Park each autumn.
At the heart of the festival are around 5,000 lanterns, ranging from bamboo and paper creations crafted by local schoolchildren to floating lanterns set adrift in the garden pond. Lanterns even illuminate the park's large fountain, transforming the grounds into a landscape of light.
The event balances those moments of quiet beauty with lively entertainment. The opening ceremony includes performances on ocarina and quena, followed by the lighting of lanterns and the fountain. Throughout the festival, local musicians and residents take to the stage for live performances, while food stalls and trucks provide festival favorites and regional specialties.
Families are especially well catered for, with a children's square offering classic festival games such as hoop toss, dice games, yo-yo fishing, and balloon art. Another highlight is the hands-on bamboo lantern making experience, limited to a set number of participants, where visitors can decorate their own lantern to add to the glowing displays.
Admission is free, though visitors are asked to use public transportation as there is no on-site parking. Please also be aware that the operating hours differ on each day of the event. For 2025, the hours are as below:
- Saturday, October 4, 2025, 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM
- Sunday, October 5, 2025, 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM
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