Held annually in mid-August, Hi-no-Kuni Matsuri (Fire Country Festival) celebrates Kumamoto's identity as the 'Land of Fire', a reference to the active volcanic landscape of Aso. The festival's centrepiece is a night parade of illuminated floats and performers in samurai armour evoking the legacy of lord Kato Kiyomasa. A mass Ondo folk-dance event at Kumamoto Castle draws thousands of costumed participants and spectators each evening.
- Type
- Festival
- Category
- Matsuri
- Season
- Summer
- Month
- August
- Region
- Kyushu
- Prefecture
- Kumamoto
- City
- Kumamoto
Highlights
- ◆Night parade of fire-lit floats beneath Kumamoto Castle
- ◆Mass Ondo folk-dance participation event with 3,000+ performers
- ◆Samurai armour procession honouring Kato Kiyomasa
- ◆Street food and craft stalls throughout the city centre
- ◆Spectacular backdrop of the restored Kumamoto Castle keep