# Karatsu Kunchi

> The autumn festival of Karatsu Shrine, held on 2, 3 and 4 November every year. Fourteen large lacquered floats called hikiyama are pulled through the old castle town of Karatsu.

- Prefecture: Saga
- Type: Float procession
- Admission: Free to attend
- Typically held: 2, 3 and 4 November every year, whatever the day of the week.
- Official site: https://www.karatsu-kankou.jp/feature/karatsukunchi/

## Dates

- 2026-11-02 to 2026-11-04
- Status: confirmed
- Dates verified on 2026-10-30 from https://www.karatsu-kankou.jp/events/detail/881

Kunchi is the autumn festival of Karatsu Shrine, and its centre is the fourteen hikiyama, floats owned by fourteen neighbourhoods of the old castle town. The oldest is the red lion of Katana-machi, finished in 1819; the others followed one by one until 1876. They are built in the ikkanbari method, paper layered over a frame and lacquered, and take the shape of lions, the helmets of Minamoto no Yoshitsune, Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin, a sea bream, a flying dragon, a turtle carrying Urashima Taro and two ships. Each weighs two to three tonnes, and the heaviest, the Hoo-maru and the Shippo-maru, are three. The festival runs over three days. On the evening of 2 November, the Yoi-hikiyama, the floats are lit up and pulled to the front of the shrine: six leave from Otemon-guchi and the other eight join them on the way. On 3 November they follow the shrine's portable shrine to the Otabisho, its resting place at Nishinohama. Hauling the floats into the ground there (from noon in 2026) and out again (from 15:00) is the part most people come to see. On 4 November the floats go round about 8 km of the old town without the portable shrine, gather on Komeyamachi street around midday, and in the evening are put away one at a time in the float exhibition hall. The festival is a national Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property, and in 2016 UNESCO listed it as one of the 33 Yama, Hoko, Yatai float festivals of Japan. The local dish for the days is ara, a large grouper simmered whole for about a day, served to guests who are invited into homes.

## Where it happens
- Karatsu
- Karatsu Castle

## FAQ

### When is Karatsu Kunchi?

On 2, 3 and 4 November every year, whatever the day of the week. The evening of the 2nd is the lit-up Yoi-hikiyama, the 3rd is the procession to the Otabisho at Nishinohama, and on the 4th the floats go round the old town and are put away in the evening. In 2026 that is Monday to Wednesday, and in 2027 Tuesday to Thursday.

### Where is the best place to watch?

The best-known moment is on 3 November at the Otabisho in Nishinohama, where the floats are hauled in from noon and out again from 15:00 (2026 times). To avoid the worst crowds, the Saga Prefecture tourism site suggests streets with wide pavements, such as the road in front of the city hall or the street north of the Arpino building by the station. On the 4th the floats gather on Komeyamachi street around midday.

### Can I see the floats outside the festival?

Yes. The floats are kept in the float exhibition hall, which while the old hall is being rebuilt is in the Furusato Kaikan Arpino next to Karatsu Station. It is open 9:00 to 17:00, closed 29 to 31 December, and costs 310 yen for adults. The floats are also lined up in front of Karatsu Shrine for its spring festival on 29 April, unless it rains.

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Source: [Karatsu Kunchi — Japan Voyage](https://travel.japanvoyage.jp/festivals/karatsu-kunchi)
Last updated: 2026-10-30