Nogata Summer Festival 2026

Summary

The Nogata Summer Festival fills the banks of the Onga River in Nogata, Fukuoka, on July 26, 2026, pairing the Nogata Oiyama-kasa float race with an hour of fireworks from 8 p.m. Teams including the Shinmachi Gion-yamakasa and the Kotomachi North, Central and Taga district floats sprint down the national road in front of the fireworks venue, showing off their daring gaburi cornering and pounding drums, before the display from the riverbank closes out the day. JR Nogata Station is a 10-minute walk from the venue.

Overview

The heart of the festival is the Nogata Oiyama-kasa, in which the Shinmachi Gion-yamakasa, the Kotomachi North and Central district floats, and the Taga district float charge down the national road fronting the fireworks venue. The floats' rough, dramatic cornering — the gaburi — together with driving drumbeats is what draws the crowds, a tradition deeply rooted in the town. Once the racing ends, fireworks rise from the Onga riverbank for a full hour from 8:00 p.m.; the number of shells is not publicly disclosed. JR Nogata Station on the Chikuho Line is 10 minutes away on foot, and the venue is about 15 minutes by car from either the Yahata interchange on the Kyushu Expressway or the Babayama exit of the Kitakyushu Urban Expressway. Parking is partly paid and requires advance reservation, and as the festival has no official website, check the latest announcements from the organizer, the Nogata Chamber of Commerce and Industry, before setting out.

Details

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