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Two bamboo lantern (take-akari) festivals are still ahead in Kyushu this autumn, both in Oita Prefecture: Sennen Akari in Hita (November 13–15) and Chikuraku in Taketa (November 20–22). This page compares dates, hours, and what it costs to get there by car or shuttle bus. Kokura Castle Take-akari (ended November 3) and Usuki Take-yoi (ended November 8) are not covered.
In short
- Sennen Akari (Hita) runs Friday, November 13 to Sunday, November 15, from about 16:30 to about 21:00.
- Chikuraku (Taketa) runs Friday, November 20 to Sunday, November 22, from 16:00 to 21:30 (until 21:00 on the last day).
- Hita parking near the venue is by paid reservation only this year: ¥1,500 per time slot, plus a service fee, through the app akippa.
- Taketa shuttle buses from the parking lots to JR Bungo-Taketa Station cost ¥500 for high school students and older and ¥200 for elementary and junior high school students.
Checked with official pages on October 22, 2026 (Japan time).
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1. How to choose: dates, trains and parking
- For a parade as well as lanterns, choose Sennen Akari. On Sunday, November 15, a procession for the arrival of the district governor (gundai) starts at 13:00, and the Tenryo Festival runs from 10:00 on November 14 and 15.
- If you drive to Hita, book parking first. Parking near the venue became paid and reservation-only this year.
- For Taketa, extra late trains are added: a special train leaves JR Bungo-Taketa Station for Oita in the 21:00 hour.
2. Comparison table: dates, hours and cost
| Festival | Dates | Hours | Car and cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sennen Akari (Hita) | Nov 13 (Fri) – Nov 15 (Sun) | About 16:30 – 21:00 | Nearby parking by reservation, ¥1,500 per time slot (plus service fee) |
| Chikuraku (Taketa) | Nov 20 (Fri) – Nov 22 (Sun) | 16:00 – 21:30 (to 21:00 on Nov 22) | Shuttle bus ¥500 (high school and older) |
The costs in the last column are for getting there by car or shuttle bus. This page does not state an admission fee for either festival.
3. Sennen Akari in Hita (November 13–15)
The 22nd Sennen Akari runs from Friday, November 13 to Sunday, November 15, 2026, from about 16:30 to about 21:00. Bamboo lanterns light the old streets of the Mamedamachi and Maruyama areas and the riverbank of the Kagetsu River in Hita, Oita. The Tenryo Festival is held from 10:00 to 16:30 on November 14 and 15, and the procession for the arrival of the district governor starts at 13:00 on November 15. The schedule is on the Hita City page (Japanese).
This year, parking around the venue is paid and reservation-only. You reserve through the parking app akippa (membership registration is required, first come first served). General sales started on Wednesday, October 28 at 10:00. A regular car costs ¥1,500 per time slot, and the reservation carries a separate service fee. Locations and sales times are on the akippa page for the Hita Tenryo Festival and Sennen Akari (Japanese). A costume walking tour of the town costs ¥500 per person (60 minutes), with sign-up on the day on November 14 and 15.
Hotels and inns: Search hotels and inns around Hita (Kokonoe, Hita, Amagase) on Rakuten Travel (ad).
| Name | Sennen Akari |
|---|---|
| Address | Mamedamachi, Hita City, Oita |
| Hours / Closed | November 13–15 about 16:30–about 21:00 |
| Phone | 0973-22-2036 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
4. Chikuraku in Taketa (November 20–22)
The 27th Chikuraku runs from Friday, November 20 to Sunday, November 22, 2026, from 16:00 to 21:30 (until 21:00 on the last day). About 20,000 bamboo lanterns light the castle town of Taketa. The bamboo is cut as part of keeping the nearby hills (satoyama) in good shape and then reused for the festival. The Taketa City Tourism Association page (Japanese) has the outline.
If you drive, park in one of the dedicated lots. These are Taketa City Hall and Taketa Sports Park, plus Taketa Junior High School and Taketa City General Cultural Hall Grantz Taketa on weekends only. Follow the attendants’ directions.
A shuttle bus links the dedicated lots and JR Bungo-Taketa Station from 16:00 to 21:30. The fare is ¥500 for high school students and older and ¥200 for elementary and junior high school students, the same for a one-way or round trip.
Traffic is restricted inside the venue from 15:00 to 22:00 (from 17:00 for some roads). JR adds extra trains in the 21:00 hour from Bungo-Taketa Station to Oita. For questions, contact the NPO Satoyama Hozen Take Katsuyo Hyakuninkai, at Bungo-Taketa Station.
Hotels and inns: Search hotels and inns around Taketa (Kuju, Taketa) on Rakuten Travel (ad).
| Name | Chikuraku |
|---|---|
| Address | Taketa castle town area, Taketa City, Oita |
| Hours / Closed | November 20–22 16:00–21:30 (until 21:00 on November 22) |
| Phone | 0974-63-2638 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
Sources
4 pages we checked
Checked with official pages on October 22, 2026 (Japan time).
