Hita River Opening Festival 5/22, 5/23

May has rolled around again folks and that means the Hita River Opening Festival is nearly upon us! Thousands will converge on the city for its biggest festival of the year, the highlight of which is a dazzling display of over 10,000 fireworks taking place on Saturday and Sunday night, May 22nd and 23rd. The fireworks are sponsored by various individuals and corporations in different segments, and the atmosphere was distinctly romantic last year when one local used his segment to propose to his long-term girlfriend.

The festival, which is also known as the Hita Kankousai (Hita Tourism Festival), celebrates the start of the Ayu fishing season. Hita is situated at the confluence of several rivers that flow west, eventually becoming the Chikugo River. The Mikuma River runs through the center of town and is the focus for many of the weekend's daytime festivities. You can take part in rowing, hop into a big floating wooden tub or pick up the pace with a whiz downriver on the banana boat! For those who prefer to spectate, there will be various music and dance performances and parades in front of the station and in the city center. Over 1,500 students and members of the defense forces will perform in a marching band on the Saturday afternoon. Browse through stalls and the farmers' market at the station for local produce and crafts.

The festival is ideal for a family outing, with plenty of entertainment organized for kids including a magic show, fishing, games and arts and crafts.　Be sure to drop by the Patria, the town theater, which will host many of the festival's events, including a karaoke contest. The building itself merits a visit, with its contemporary architecture, bright open spaces and beautiful timberwork using the local cedar.

Hita - The Little Kyoto of Kyushu

The River Opening Festival provides the perfect opportunity to explore Hita City, which, located in the far west of Oita Prefecture, is right on the doorstep of Fukuoka. Although somewhat under the radar when it comes to top tourist destinations, it is steeped in history and has been nicknamed the "Little Kyoto of Kyushu".

Mameda-machi:
Edo period buildings and culture have been particularly well preserved in the old town, Mameda-machi, which has been designated an important traditional architectural preservation district by the national government. Not to be missed on a tour of Hita's old town is the Kuncho Sake Brewery Museum which offers free entrance and tasting and is famous for its unusual sake ice-cream. Enjoy fine dining at Tokikoso Restaurant, which is housed in a remodelled sake warehouse dating from the Edo period. Local produce forms the basis of its Asian-fusion menu. Many different courses are available, with the cheapest (the 'flower course') starting at ¥2,300.

Sapporo Beer Factory:
Located on a hill with panoramic views of the city, the Sapporo Beer Factory is one of Hita's main tourist attractions. Guided tours finishing with a 20 minute all-you-can-drink session are offered free of charge. The beer garden attached to the brewery has an all-you-can-eat-and-drink course for ¥ 3,800, making it well worth a visit and a perfect party venue.

Amagase Onsen:
Take some time out to unwind completely at the onsen of nearby Amagase town, one of the three biggest hot spring spas in Oita Prefecture. Specially recommended for foreigners are the hot springs at the Tensui Ryokan. This luxurious Japanese-style hotel boasts outdoor onsen in the woods, overlooking a waterfall. The bathing fee is ¥500, while one night's accommodation plus breakfast and dinner will set you back ¥18,900 (lowest fee). For those seeking a more modern experience, the Milky Spa Sun Village offers a package deal including one meal and access to a hotel room and the onsen.

Hita Specialties:
Before leaving Hita, pick up some local souvenirs to take home. Geta, wooden clogs made from cedar, cypress and pawlonia, are produced more plentifully in Hita than anywhere else in Japan. Another speciality of Hita is the pottery made in the scenic mountain village of Onta. Boasting a 300-year long history, Onta Pottery is one of the foremost examples of true folk art in Japan. In the late 1500's, immigrant Korean potters brought new techniques such as kiln designs and ash glazing to Kyushu. These techniques continue to be used in their original form in Onta pottery production, with skills being passed down from father to son up to the present day. Onta ceramics are produced without the use of modern machinery, using only natural, organic materials. Soft clay is dug from the local mountainside and is pounded into powder by a large wooden hammer (karausu) powered by a water mill in the river. Onta Pottery has been designated an "Important Intangible Cultural Property of Japan".

With so much to offer, Hita is the perfect destination for a city break!