Hakata Okunchi 2026: Dates, the Ox-Cart Parade & Access

Hakata Okunchi 2026 is the autumn harvest-thanksgiving festival of Kushida Shrine in central Fukuoka, held on 23–24 October 2026, and it's free to attend. Counted among Japan's "three great Okunchi" alongside Nagasaki and Karatsu, its highlight is the Goshinko procession on 24 October — an ox-drawn carriage pulling an ornate portable shrine through Hakata. Here are the verified dates, what happens each day, and how to get there.

2026 dates & schedule

• When: Friday 23 – Saturday 24 October 2026.
• 23 Oct (day 1): from the morning, a harvest market of seasonal fish and vegetables fills the shrine, often with free amazake (sweet rice drink). After dark the precinct is lit by hundreds of lanterns.
• 24 Oct (day 2): the Goshinko (御神幸) procession sets off about 14:00 — an ox-cart pulling the mikoshi, plus children in Heian-era court dress, winding through Hakata for around two hours.
• Sumo and judo tournaments and other events round out the two days.

Where it is & how to get there

• Where: Kushida Shrine (1-41 Kamikawabata-machi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka), the spiritual home of old Hakata.
• Access: about 5 minutes' walk from Kushida-jinja-mae Station (Fukuoka City Subway), right by Canal City Hakata and the Kawabata shopping arcade.

Why it matters

Dating back around 1,200 years, Hakata Okunchi is one of the city's oldest rites — a quieter, more traditional counterpart to summer's thunderous Hakata Gion Yamakasa. If you're tracing Japan's kunchi tradition, pair it with Nagasaki Kunchi.

Tips

Come the morning of 23 October for the market and free amazake, then return on the 24th for the ox-cart procession — the single best moment. Confirm the year's exact timings on the official Fukuoka tourism site (gofukuoka.jp) before you go.