Kyushu’s largest festival?
Temperature - 21 C
Food eaten - Jyu Jyu Yakiniku and lots… lots of festival food
November in Saga is upon us and endless events are occurring in the prefecture. The temperature is slowly sinking and the weather is changing!
Unfortunately, Saga’s most famous event, the Saga Balloon Festival, was canceled this year due to unfavorable weather conditions. I am saddened by this situation, but I genuinely admire the efforts of everyone involved. They made sure that the fans and travelers could still have a meaningful experience. From hosting special surprise events to the balloon museum selling merchandise. I hope if I am here longer than a year next year I will be able to truly experience Saga Balloon Festival at its fullest.
One event that takes place the same weekend is Karatsu Kunchi, one of the largest festivals in Kyushu. The festival is held over three days and features 14 floats from the surrounding areas, each representing different deities, parading through the town. On the last day, which is when I attended, people shouted "Enya," and there were lively performances throughout the town. The streets were lined with vendors as far as the eye could see.
Food, games, and events fill the streets of Karatsu during the festival. The shrine is bustling with people who are making prayers and drawing fortunes. It was my first festival, and I enjoyed the vibrant atmosphere. The enticing smells of the food were a great bonus—the festival food was amazing! I also had a lot of fun trying out some lucky draw games.
To take a break from the festival and the crowd, a visit to Karatsu Castle is a must. I highly recommend it for its panoramic views from the top floor. The entire Karatsu area is beautiful, and the sea along with the surrounding islands creates a perfect backdrop. This is an area I wish to revisit and take a ferry trip to explore some of these islands.
I had a lot of fun experiencing Karatsu Kunchi.If you're ever in the area around November, I recommend spending a day enjoying the festivities. My favorite float was Tai, the adorable red fish, and I was thrilled to see that there was a lot of merchandise promoting him. I also learned that he is considered the most iconic of the floats. Indeed, cute mascots can boost merchandise sales!
