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For the historic procession, visit on Sunday. For a daytime stroll in period costume, either festival day works. The Hita Tenryo Festival (日田天領まつり) takes place on November 14–15, 2026, from 10:00 to 16:00 in Hita’s Mameda district and around Tsukikuma Park in Oita Prefecture.
After the daytime festivities, bamboo lanterns illuminate the Mameda area and the banks of the Kagetsu River for Sennen Akari (千年あかり). It is a chance to see the neighborhood in two very different settings: a lively historical festival by day and lantern light after dark.
Open the official festival program and visitor information.
Dates, location and access
The festival centers on Mameda, a district whose merchant culture developed when Hita was under direct shogunate administration during the Edo period. The program brings that history into the streets through period dress and a ceremonial procession.
| Festival | Hita Tenryo Festival |
|---|---|
| Dates | Saturday, November 14–Sunday, November 15, 2026 |
| Daytime hours | 10:00–16:00; individual activities have their own schedules |
| Festival area | Mameda district and the area around Tsukikuma Park, Hita |
| Address | Tsukikuma Park: 2-2-1 Maruyama, Hita, Oita Prefecture. This is the park’s address, not an address for the entire Mameda festival area. |
| By train | Approximately 15 minutes on foot from Hita Station on the JR Kyudai Main Line |
| By car | Approximately 5 minutes from Hita IC on the Oita Expressway |
| Parking | 500 spaces listed across surrounding parking areas |
Use the festival map below to orient yourself between the activity areas and parking locations. The city’s official Tsukikuma Park page confirms the park’s address.
Which day to choose
Sunday is the day to choose if the procession is your priority. It runs from 13:00 to 16:00. Costume walks are available on both days, but finish at 15:00 on Sunday, an hour earlier than on Saturday.
| Activity | Saturday, November 14 | Sunday, November 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Period-costume town walks (時代衣装でまち歩き) | 10:00–16:00 | 10:00–15:00 |
| Nigiwai Hiroba activity area (にぎわい広場) | 10:00–16:00 | 10:00–16:00 |
| Saigokusuji Gundai arrival procession (西国筋郡代着任行列) | Scheduled for Sunday | 13:00–16:00 |
The program also includes lantern displays and a stamp rally focused on historical figures. For costume participation details, including fees and reservations, check the official festival information before visiting.
Sunday’s historical procession
The Sunday procession recreates the arrival of a shogunate administrator. It is the clearest choice for visitors who want to watch the festival’s historical pageantry rather than focus only on walking through the district.
The official route map shows an outward and return route between Tsukikuma Park and Kangien (咸宜園). Use it alongside the venue map when deciding where to watch.
Lanterns and evening visits
Sennen Akari brings bamboo lanterns to the Mameda area and the Kagetsu River banks at night. The daytime festival ends at 16:00; check the official evening program for lighting times when planning how long to stay.
The Kusano Honke residence (草野本家) has evening openings from Friday, November 13 through Sunday, November 15. That schedule starts a day before the main festival, so distinguish it from the November 14–15 daytime program.
If a hot-spring stay is part of your wider travel plans, our guide to Michelin three-star onsen offers a separate starting point for choosing a destination. For accommodation ideas across Japan, see the Michelin Key onsen ryokan guide.
For a different illuminated outing in Uji, the Nintendo Museum Zelda light-up guide covers that event’s visiting hours and ticket information. It is a separate destination, not part of the Hita festival.
Frequently asked questions
- When is the Hita Tenryo Festival?
- The festival takes place on November 14–15, 2026, from 10:00 to 16:00. Individual activities have different hours.
- Which day has the historical procession?
- The Saigokusuji Gundai arrival procession takes place on Sunday, November 15, from 13:00 to 16:00.
- Can I join a costume walk on either day?
- Period-costume town walks are scheduled for 10:00–16:00 on Saturday and 10:00–15:00 on Sunday. Check the official festival information for participation conditions.
- How do I get there from Hita Station?
- The festival area is approximately 15 minutes on foot from Hita Station on the JR Kyudai Main Line.
- Where is Tsukikuma Park?
- Tsukikuma Park is at 2-2-1 Maruyama, Hita, Oita Prefecture. The festival also extends into the Mameda district.
- Is there an evening lantern event?
- Yes. Sennen Akari features bamboo lanterns around Mameda and along the Kagetsu River banks. Check the official program for lighting times.
- When is the Kusano Honke evening opening?
- The evening opening runs from November 13–15, 2026, starting a day before the main daytime festival.
- Is parking available?
- The event information lists 500 spaces in surrounding parking areas. Use the official venue map to locate them.
Before setting off, consult the official Hita Tenryo Festival website for admission information, activity conditions and the evening schedule.
Plan your next day out
See what else is on that day, that month and in the same area on our event calendar.
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