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This "Psychedelic Trance" dance festival takes place over 3 days in late August or early September. In 2003 it will be held on the weekend of August 29,30,31. There is a great festival atmosphere - and the event attracts about 2000 people. Camping is possible at the site (Bouchu CampGround). Tickets for the weekend cost 4500Yen in advance and 5000Yen on the gate. Tickets are available from Django in town 096-355-6960. Check out the official website for pictures of last years festival. http://www.volcano-aso.com/ Country Gold October 19, 2003. Country Gold is the largest country music festival in Japan. The festival is organized by Charlie Nagatani - owner of Good Time Charlies in Kumamoto. They hold it in every October. It attracts many country musicians from overseas (America). 10,000 cowboys and cowgirls gather from all over Japan - tassels are essential! The elaborate costumes are worth the entrance fee alone. There are food booths selling "real American beef," and stalls with all things country. There is a huge line dancing event which many of the participants evidently practice for for months. The event culminates with a large fireworks festival. Gates Open 9:00 am at the "Aspecta" site in Minami Aso. Tickets cost 6000yen in advance and 7000yen on the door. Last year's line-up included Eddy Raven and Heather Myles. You should contact Country Gold on 096-359-2735 for more information. Aso Fire Festival Mid - late March The start of the Aso fire festival is marked by an evening where huge kanji characters (350meter long) are built with bonfires on the slopes of Aso. The"Hifuri Shinji" held at Aso shrine is another fire festival event well worth attending. In this festival, people swing straw torches wishing for their good health throughout the year. Previous to 1945, people from all across Aso town would swing fire, along a 15km route. This was stopped due to enforcement of fire regulations. Despite this, the festival is still probably the most dangerous public-organized event you'll ever attend. The festivities start at 6pm with a taiko drum performance. The fun rally begins at around 7pm though, as darkness falls. Flaming branches are paraded in - and are used to light bales of hay heaped by the (wooden!) shrine. After a quick demonstration, volunteers from the hundreds of people lining the streets step forward - to swing the flaming bales around their heads. The whole street is an apocalyptic scene of dense black smoke, raging fires on the ground and flames through the air! There are no safety measures to speak of - only a handful of firemen on hand to stamp out impromptu fires started when the rope used to swing the bales burns through, sending the bales arcing into the crowds. Elementary school kids, grandmothers, even women with babies in their arm all step all having a go. Refreshingly dangerous! Pearl Line Marathon Race 2nd Sunday of March Oyano, Amakusa Strawberry marathon Late February Yokoshima is a town of 6,000 located in the southern part of Tamana-gun, adjacent to Tamana city and Tensui. Recent polls prove it to be the third most famous strawberry growing town in all of Japan (ranked 5th in the mini-tomato category). Yokoshima is fittingly home of the annual Ichigo (Strawberry) Marathon. This is the second largest marathon on Kyushu. Distances range from 2.5 km to a half marathon course. All ages are encouraged to participate. Prices vary from 1,500-3,500�~, according to race and omiyage options. For more information about the marathon please contact the Yokoshima B.O.E. at 0968-84-2122 3333 steps climb Mid November This is the largest stone staircase in Japan. There are 3333 steps which run continuously up a hillside in Chuo-machi - leading to a temple at the top, and great views of the surrounding countryside. You can climb the steps anytime, but in mid November a special festival is held. Participants have to estimate their arrival time at the summit (watches not allowed!) - and there are some great prizes on offer for the best guesses - return tickets to Osaka and Kyoto etc. The fun starts at 8.30am - and lasts until 2pm. Fancy dress is encouraged. Ushibuka Haiya Festival April 19-21 (3rd Saturday & Sunday of April) This is held during the third weekend of April in Ushibuka City. There are about 5,000 participants. It culminates in the "haiya dance" through the streets. This festival is said to have been created by fishermen who had plenty of time to sit and drink when the strong southern wind preventing them from sailing! The Ushibuka Festival is regarded as one of the liveliest festivals in Kyushu. Firefly festival Firefly season starts in mid to late May and lasts until early June. There are a number of places to go firefly viewing. One of the best places to view fireflies is Kyokushi-mura in Kikuchi. The village has a festival with marquees, BBQ and dancing. There are plenty of volunteers on hand to tell you all about this phenomenon. From Ozu town take route 325 towards kikuchi city. You will see the michino eki on your left - follow signs for Kyokushi festival. Other places worth visiting in firefly season are Yabe machi (in Kamimashiki gun) - along the Hachiya River, and Itsuki mura (in Kuma-gun)- along the Kawabe river. Both of these claim to have over 30,000 fireflies! Cherry blossoms viewing (hanami) Early April The most popular place to go for cherry blossom viewing is in the Kumamoto Castle grounds. These stay open until 9pm during the season. The large grassy park to the west of the main castle area has less cherry blossoms, but is really great for hanami picnics and games. Head down to Suzenji Park for some great hanami photo opportunities - there is a small grassy area for picnicking - but the gardens do get really crowded at weekends. Other recommended cherry blossoms areas in the prefecture are Kikuchi Shrine, Yunoko in Ashikita, Hakusui village in Aso with their giant cherry tree - 22 metres high - and Ichifusa dam in Kuma gun which has over 20,000 cherry trees. Kumamoto summer festival Aug. 11-13 The highlight of this festival is the '�cOtemoyan' (did you get married lately?!") dance down the main street of the city. The festival finishes with a large firework display by Lake Ezu. Yamaga Lantern Festival August 15-16 This festival features women dancing with the hand-crafted Yamaga lanterns on their heads. It is famous throughout the region for the spectacular show. Kawashiri River Lantern Festival August 15 About 5,000 lanterns and 200 small boats are placed into the river to take the souls of deceased ancestors to the next world. There is a huge firework display as the lanterns slowly drift down the river. It takes place on the Kasegawa Riverbank in Kumamoto City The Great Festival of Fujisaki Hachimangu Shrine (horse festival) Sept. 11-15 The highlight of this festival is a day-long parade on the 15th. Soldiers in ancient armor and ornately decorated horses follow a portable Shinto shrine through the streets of Kumamoto. This festival is not to everyone's tastes however - and has been toned down over the years. This festival originated as a celebration of an attack on Korea, something which is now downplayed. The horses taken through the streets should think themselves lucky too - they were traditionally force-fed sake, until deliriously drunk and then slaughtered on the streets! Oama fire festival October 15th This is a really crazy festival where there is a lot of drinking by the men and boys of the town. In short, the older men guard the shrine by forming a wall of bodies. There is a huge bonfire in the shrine grounds, and the younger men run at the older men carrying flaming branches trying to break through their wall. After some unsuccessful attempts, the younger generation breaks through and everyone celebrates. After the fire is reduced to coals, the boys, who've been chosen by the gods, get to walk across the hot coals. If you take the bus from Kotsu Center, get off at the Oama shogakko stop, it should cost around 730 �~. Myoken Festival Yatsushiro horse festival Nov. 23 This is regarded as one of the three great festivals of Kyushu. There are many colorful floats, a ritual dance and paraded horses. The festival starts at Yatsushiro Shine and parades through town to Yatsushiro station. |