2026 Hanawa Tenjin Festival One-Day Exploration Course

This one-day itinerary centers on the "Hanawa Tenjin Festival" (August 30, 2026, approximately starting at 17:00) held at Matsubaraji Temple in Nasu Karasuyama City. Known for the Naka River and the traditional Yamaage Festival, Nasu Karasuyama is a castle town where clear streams and performing arts traditions thrive. Spend your day cooling off at Ryūmon Falls, which cascades majestically over the Naka River, and visiting the Yamaage Hall to see the stage mechanisms of this 400-year-old traditional art form. After strolling along the Naka River, famous for its ayu fish, enjoy local cuisine and a relaxing hot spring at Michi-no-Eki Batou in the late afternoon. As evening falls and colorful decorations on the temple grounds are illuminated, the true spectacle of the Hanawa Tenjin Festival begins. Slowly savor this simple yet vibrant night that marks the beginning of autumn in the rural mountains with your family.