Organizers of the Hakata Dontaku Port Festival will significantly reduce paid seating this year due to rising material and labor costs. The annual event, one of Fukuoka’s largest festivals, previously offered about 400 reserved seats but will scale this down to around 30 chair-based viewing spots. Installation and dismantling costs exceeded ticket revenue, contributing to a deficit of roughly ¥1.5 million last year, which was covered by the Fukuoka Chamber of Commerce. For the 65th festival, organizers will introduce hourly seating tickets combined with guided walking experiences highlighting local history and culture. The changes aim to broaden access while addressing financial pressures affecting large-scale public events. Source: NHK News / TVQ News
Photo: Fukuoka Now
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