Highlights
- Oct 30 (Fri)–Nov 3 (Tue), 2026 — five days, free to watch, on the Kase River banks in eastern Saga City, Kyushu
- 100+ hot-air balloons: the morning mass ascension of competition balloons launches around 7:00 a.m.
- Evening 'La Montgolfier Nocturne' — balloons glow to burner flames and live music around dusk, often with fireworks
- The temporary 'Balloon-Saga' JR station opens only during the fiesta: ~5-min train from Saga Station, then a ~1-min walk to the venue
- Asia's largest sky-sports event, drawing 800,000+ visitors across the run
Background & story
The Saga International Balloon Fiesta is Asia's premier sky-sports event, held each autumn on the wide banks of the Kase River in Saga City, Kyushu. Over five days it hosts an international hot-air balloon competition with 100+ balloons, alongside night-glow shows and family attractions. It has grown into one of Japan's most spectacular seasonal gatherings, drawing over 800,000 visitors.
Good to know for visitors
- Getting there
- Temporary 'Balloon Saga' JR station opens beside the venue during the event Open directions in Google Maps ↗
- Booking & entry
- Free to attend — details on the official page (button above).
- Language
- Mostly in Japanese — a translation app on your phone helps.
- Good for
- families, groups of friends
Good to know
Watching is free — you only pay extra for food stalls, souvenirs, or balloon-school rides. The smartest way in is the temporary **Balloon-Saga Station**, which opens only during the fiesta: it's about a 5-minute JR ride on the Nagasaki Main Line from Saga Station, then a ~1-minute walk to the venue. Come early — the morning mass ascension around 7:00 a.m. is the best show, so plan an early start. Building a wider Kyushu trip? See our Osaka Marathon 2027 guide for another bucket-list inbound event to pair with your visit.
Getting there
Kase River riverbed, Saga City — Kasegawa, Saga City, Saga