:: Meet Oita Net Magazine O-net ::

Networks for culture and affluence of Oita

JAPANESE

ENGLISH

CHINESE

KOREAN

Hanabi – The Hosenji (Jan. 10)
(Fireworks Event)
Kokonoe Town
This is an annual winter season event at the Hosenji hotspring area. About 2,000 fabulous fireworks light up the night sky. The dynamic fire festival called “Dondoyaki” should not be missed. On top of that, public baths in the area are open to the public for free on this day.

Horanenya (Jan. 11)
Bungotakata City
It is a traditional and soul-stirring festival to celebrate the New Year. Red and white rice cakes, which brings good luck for the New Year are thrown from the boat to the audience, and the audience respond by giving gratuity. Young benchers dive into the river and pick them up. It is a municipal-designated intangible folk cultural asset and its history dates from as far back as the Edo period.

Tomyoji-temple
“Hatsudaishisai” (Jan. 18)
(New Year festival)
Yayoi Town
It is held on the third Sunday in January every year and various events are held during this New Year festival, such as a children’s parade in the Buddhist procession, and a party of cutting a New Year rice cake called “Kagamibiraki”. There is a podocarpus tree in the temple which is a municipal-designated natural treasure.

Onyujima-Island
“Tondo” Fire Festival (Jan. 11)
Saiki City
The origin of this festival lies in the legendary story, which tells of Emperor Jinmu’s visit to Onyujima-Island on his eastern punitive expedition. It is said that the fire festival is a prayer for good health throughout the year. The fire from the burning tower reaches a height of about ten meters.