Family Festivals in Fukuoka, Japan

Western Japan may be a tad more traditional and old-world than your wild Tokyo dreams, but that’s no reason to skip an opportunity to visit Fukuoka. Bring the family along for a cultural tour with both long-established charm and contemporary attractions. Check out the pulsating city during a cultural festival to get a bit of both worlds during your stay.

By day, families can enjoy cultural traditions, unique celebrations and the charming rural towns surrounding the city. By night, you can hit the town finding different karaoke bars with the kids and take turns belting out tunes in a private room, shop in quirky boutiques and load up on incredible street cuisine.

Scenes from the Doll Festival in Fukuoka, Japan © Angelique Platas

Beginning each spring, in the month of February and celebrated into May, families can delve into Japanese culture with not one, but two festivals dedicated to children and traditional family values.

Scenes from the Doll Festival in Fukuoka, Japan © Angelique Platas

Yanagawa Hina Festival

The annual celebration of Yahagawa Hina Festival kicks off March 3. Also known as the Doll Festival, ornate, expensive and incredibly designed dolls are placed in and around residences, shops and public spaces. The dolls symbolize the Emperor, Empress and court seats — all in prayer for health and happiness for young girls.

The custom also marks of the beginning of spring and dates back to the Heian period. The original concept, around year 794, was to drive evil spirits away from young girls and women to the protective dolls. Dolls are set up around Feb. 4 and, on the big day, some regions float flowers down the river and hang decorative decorations around the city.

Scenes from the Doll Festival in Fukuoka, Japan © Angelique Platas

Children’s Day

Let’s hear it for the boys — or, as it’s now known, Children’s Day. Once known as Boy’s Day, the national holiday was established in 1948 when May 5 officially became known as Children’s Day.

Families with sons celebrate the annual holiday with armor and action toys decorating homes, restaurants and various locations in town. As the final celebration of Golden Week, it’s a time to celebrate strength, individuality and happiness for children.

The annual celebrations don’t often come with a lot of pomp and circumstance. There may not be epic street festivals and endless partying, but there will be something beautiful in almost every theater, Samurai house and traditional public space you visit.