The Taiwan Festival in Kitakyushu 2026 opened on Saturday, September 26, at Senba Hiroba and the crossroads between the Kokura Izutsuya Main Building and New Building in Kokurakita Ward, Kitakyushu. It is the final Taiwan Festival of the year, and it runs through October 12.
Lantern Road Debuts With More Than 1,000 Lanterns, the Largest Display Yet
At this year's Taiwan Festival, lantern decorations reminiscent of Taiwanese night markets have been set up at each venue. The Kitakyushu venue features more than 1,000 lanterns, the largest scale to date.
Colorful lanterns line the route from Kokura Castle to the venue and the crossroads in front of Izutsuya, creating a "Lantern Road" where visitors can enjoy a Taiwanese atmosphere as they walk through the city.
The sight of colorful lanterns filling the space overhead is eye-catching even in daylight. As dusk falls and each lantern is lit, the space takes on a more dreamlike quality.
On rainy days, the light of the lanterns is reflected on the wet pavement, so lanterns appear both overhead and underfoot, as if the whole scene were wrapped in light.
Alongside the Taiwanese night market food, the lantern scenery to be enjoyed while walking around town is one of the highlights of the Taiwan Festival in Kitakyushu 2026. The "Lantern Road" looks different by day, by night, and depending on the weather.
Authentic Taiwanese Night Market Food and Cultural Experiences
The venue offers a wide range of Taiwanese flavors, from night market staples to local specialties of Tainan. The lineup includes dajipai (large fried chicken cutlet), known as the festival's perennial No. 1 favorite, the "Night Market Set" pairing pan-fried xiaolongbao with a mini lu rou fan (braised pork rice), beef noodles, and crispy fried large squid, all in the style of an authentic Taiwanese night market.
On Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27, special performances introducing traditional Taiwanese culture were held, including drumming, dance, lion dance, and Dianyin Santaizi (Electro Third Prince) performances.
Note: All performances for this event period have concluded.
The "Taiwan Festival STORE" inside the venue sells Taiwanese sweets, miscellaneous goods, and other souvenirs, and Taiwanese-style relaxation is also available, adding more ways to experience Taiwanese culture.
Choosing souvenirs and enjoying relaxation offer a different angle on Taiwan from the food, letting visitors feel as if they were on a trip to Taiwan.
The Taiwan Festival in Kitakyushu runs through Monday, October 12 (national holiday), with the "Lantern Road," authentic Taiwanese night market food, and other Taiwan-themed attractions on offer. As the final event of the year, the Kitakyushu venue is a place to enjoy Taiwanese food and culture along with the fantastical lantern scenery.
About the Taiwan Festival
The Taiwan Festival is an event held under the theme "365 Days of Taiwanese Night Markets in Japan." Through night market food from across Taiwan, it aims to let visitors experience Taiwan and to serve as a bridge between Japan and Taiwan. It began out of gratitude for the extensive support Taiwan offered after the Great East Japan Earthquake, and it celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.
Event Details
Taiwan Festival in Kitakyushu 2026
- Dates: Saturday, September 26 – Monday, October 12 (national holiday), 2026 (Rain or shine; canceled in severe weather)
- Hours: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM (Last order 8:30 PM)
- Fridays, Saturdays, and Sunday, October 11: 11:30 AM – 9:30 PM (Last order 9:00 PM)
- Admission: Free
- Venue: Senba Hiroba and the crossroads between the Kokura Izutsuya Main Building and New Building (3-10 Senba-machi, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu)
- Official website: https://taiwan-matsuri.com/202609-kitakyushu/
- Details are subject to change without notice.
