Update-date: May 02 2024
The Hakata Dontaku Festival is a dynamic celebration of traditional dance and music held annually on May 3 and 4 in the heart of Fukuoka City. This article introduces the energetic parades that weave through the city, including the So-Odori dance, where everyone is invited to join, and will show you how to make the most of the experience. Plus, it’ll feature some recommended restaurants to try the local culinary specialty of motsunabe, a flavorful offal hotpot perfect for refueling after a day of dancing.
The History of the Hakata Dontaku Festival - A Reflection of Fukuoka's Heart and Soul
The Hakata Dontaku Festival, whose full name is the Hakata Dontaku Minato Matsuri, is celebrated each year on May 3 and 4 in Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture. It is one of Japan's largest festivals, bringing in a total of two million spectators.
Dontaku is derived from the Dutch word zontag, which means Sunday or day of rest. The festival dates back 840 years, with roots in Matsubayashi, or Pine Tree Music, which marked the new year by welcoming the Deities of Fortune. During the Hakata Dontaku Festival, the Three Deities of Fortune are paraded through the city on horseback, accompanied by dancing children in ceremonial costumes, to spread blessings throughout the community.
Following the Hakata Matsubayashi, the Dontaku-tai (Dontaku troupe), takes the stage with a grand parade of approximately 650 teams and organizations of around 33,000 performers! The entire city vibrates with energy as everyone brings their spirited displays to the streets of Fukuoka.
Highlights of the Hakata Dontaku Festival
Here are some useful tips to get the most out of your experience at the Hakata Dontaku Festival.
Be sure not to miss the main Dontaku-tai parade, where performers, each dressed in their own unique and vibrant costumes, parade along the 1,270-meter Dontaku Plaza route on Meiji Dori Street, from Gofukumachi Crossing to Tenjin.
You’ll also spot performers holding shamoji (rice scoops) and clapping them together like musical instruments. This unusual tradition is said to have started when a merchant’s wife was cooking as the parade passed, and was so enraptured that she joined the festival with a rice scoop still in hand!
Be sure not to miss the main Dontaku-tai parade, where performers, each dressed in their own unique and vibrant costumes, parade along the 1,270-meter Dontaku Plaza route on Meiji Dori Street, from Gofukumachi Crossing to Tenjin.
You’ll also spot performers holding shamoji (rice scoops) and clapping them together like musical instruments. This unusual tradition is said to have started when a merchant’s wife was cooking as the parade passed, and was so enraptured that she joined the festival with a rice scoop still in hand!
Adding to the excitement are marching bands and a parade of three large vehicles impressively decorated with ten million LED lights and artificial flowers. Several dozen stages are also set up throughout the city, hosting a variety of dances and entertainment.
Maximizing Your Time at the Hakata Dontaku Festival
If you're attending the Hakata Dontaku Festival for the first time, make sure to visit the official website first. Here you can view the daily schedule and event locations to design your itinerary. There are many different events held around Fukuoka City, so find the ones that interest you and plan your time around them.
The official website offers machine translations in English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, and Korean.
The official website offers machine translations in English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, and Korean.
Hakata Dontaku’s festive atmosphere is contagious. If you feel the urge to dance rather than just observe, stay for the So-Odori! This massive group dance is the festival’s grand finale, starting on the evening of the 2nd day, and all spectators are welcome to participate.
The dance is slow and easy to follow, and professionals will demonstrate it at Dontaku Plaza and other key locations prior to starting, making it a breeze to learn on the spot. Once you’re in the circle, let yourself go to the rhythm and tap along with a rice scoop if you have one!
The dance is slow and easy to follow, and professionals will demonstrate it at Dontaku Plaza and other key locations prior to starting, making it a breeze to learn on the spot. Once you’re in the circle, let yourself go to the rhythm and tap along with a rice scoop if you have one!
The Best Places to Enjoy Motsunabe - Fukuoka City’s Local Specialty
After a riveting day at the Hakata Dontaku Festival, take the opportunity to recharge with Fukuoka’s tasty local dish, motsunabe!
This popular hotpot contains beef offal simmered in a flavorful broth of soy sauce or miso and enriched with garlic, garlic chives, and cabbage.
Below are two recommended motsunabe restaurants conveniently located near the Hakata Dontaku Festival!
This popular hotpot contains beef offal simmered in a flavorful broth of soy sauce or miso and enriched with garlic, garlic chives, and cabbage.
Below are two recommended motsunabe restaurants conveniently located near the Hakata Dontaku Festival!
Hakata Motsunabe Yamanaka Main Branch (Ohashi)
Hakata Motsunabe Yamanaka Main Branch has served its famous motsunabe since opening in 1984. The signature offering, [The Motsu Nabe Comparison Set (for 2-3 people)] (6,480 JPY), is renowned for its addictive taste, and features offal exclusively sourced from domestic beef. You can enjoy it in both soy sauce and miso-based broths, which are rich and savory and spiced up with aromatic garlic for a robust kick.
While miso-based broth is common today, back when the restaurant first opened, motsunabe was typically seasoned with soy sauce. This restaurant pioneered a new broth made with a unique blend of several types of miso, kick-starting a now-standard trend.
While miso-based broth is common today, back when the restaurant first opened, motsunabe was typically seasoned with soy sauce. This restaurant pioneered a new broth made with a unique blend of several types of miso, kick-starting a now-standard trend.
After savoring the ingredients, order the [Champon Noodles] (330 JPY) to relish the umami-packed broth a second time. Champon are thicker and chewier than typical ramen noodles, and have the perfect texture to absorb the broth and the deep flavors infused from the simmered offal and vegetables.
The restaurant is also distinguished by its impressive facade of a traditional Japanese warehouse. Inside, the spacious interior contains Japanese tatami floor tables, presenting a tranquil ambiance reminiscent of tea rooms and Japanese-style inns.
The restaurant is also distinguished by its impressive facade of a traditional Japanese warehouse. Inside, the spacious interior contains Japanese tatami floor tables, presenting a tranquil ambiance reminiscent of tea rooms and Japanese-style inns.
Hakata Motsunabe Yamanaka Main Branch
Open: [Monday, Wednesday, Thursday] Dinner 4:00 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 9:30 pm) [Friday] Dinner 4:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:30 pm) [Saturday, National Holidays] Lunch 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm (L.O. 1:30 pm) / Dinner 4:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:30 pm) [Sunday] Lunch 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm (L.O. 1:30 pm) / Dinner 4:00 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 9:30 pm)
Closed: Tuesday
Average price: [Dinner] 5,000 JPY
Access: Approximately 10 minutes walk from Ohashi Station on the Nishitetsu Omuta Line, and 15 minutes walk from Takeshita Station on the JR Kagoshima Main Line
Address: 2-2-12, Mukaino, Minami-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka Map
More Details Reservation
Closed: Tuesday
Average price: [Dinner] 5,000 JPY
Access: Approximately 10 minutes walk from Ohashi Station on the Nishitetsu Omuta Line, and 15 minutes walk from Takeshita Station on the JR Kagoshima Main Line
Address: 2-2-12, Mukaino, Minami-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka Map
More Details Reservation
Hakata Motsunabe and Horse Sashimi Yuzu Motsunabe Matsuba (Yakuin Odori)
For a unique twist on the traditional hotpot, Hakata Motsunabe and Horse Sashimi Yuzu Motsunabe Matsuba serves its signature [Yuzu Motsunabe] (1,580 JPY) flavored with zesty notes of yuzu. Unlike the common soy sauce, miso, and salt-based broths, yuzu is mild and refreshing, ensuring stimulating mouthfuls right up until the final slurp.
Plus, instead of the typical finishing dish of champon/udon noodles or rice, you can opt for [Vietnamese Pho] (380 JPY). These rice noodles are a perfect match for the fragrant yuzu-flavored motsunabe broth.
Plus, instead of the typical finishing dish of champon/udon noodles or rice, you can opt for [Vietnamese Pho] (380 JPY). These rice noodles are a perfect match for the fragrant yuzu-flavored motsunabe broth.
Inside the restaurant, guests are greeted by the soothing sounds of jazz music, creating a relaxed atmosphere much like a bar. The cozy interior has just eight counter seats and four tables, making it perfect for small groups to enjoy each other's company in an intimate setting.
Hakata Motsunabe and Horse Sashimi Yuzu Motsunabe Matsuba
Open: [Sunday - Tuesday,Thursday - Saturday,Holidays,Day Before Holidays] Other 6:00 pm - 11:00 pm (last order 10:30 pm)
Closed: Wednesday
Average price: [Dinner] 5,000 JPY / [Lunch] 5,000 JPY
Access: 3-minute walk from Yakuin-odori Station on the Fukuoka City Subway Nanakuma Line, or an 8-minute walk from Yakuin Station on the Nishitetsu Tenjin Omuta Line.
Address: 102, Estate More Josui-dori, 4-18-5, Yakuin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka Map
More Details Reservation
Closed: Wednesday
Average price: [Dinner] 5,000 JPY / [Lunch] 5,000 JPY
Access: 3-minute walk from Yakuin-odori Station on the Fukuoka City Subway Nanakuma Line, or an 8-minute walk from Yakuin Station on the Nishitetsu Tenjin Omuta Line.
Address: 102, Estate More Josui-dori, 4-18-5, Yakuin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka Map
More Details Reservation
Immerse yourself in the electrifying Hakata Dontaku Festival, where Fukuoka City comes alive in celebration, and then cap off your fun with a round of drinks and a delicious motsunabe hotpot. While fatty offal meat may sound off putting, you'll be pleasantly surprised by the lack of odor and the rich umami flavors, so be sure to visit the recommended restaurants for an unforgettable culinary experience!
Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.
