This translation was prepared with AI assistance and reviewed by the editorial team.
Mizuta Tenmangu in Chikugo City holds its Sentomyo Fireworks Festival on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. One thousand small lamps made with scallop shells and rapeseed oil outline gates, a sunrise and a sailing ship, followed by about 400 fireworks in the evening.
This is a local religious and community festival rather than a large urban fireworks show. The Sentomyo tradition is a Fukuoka Prefecture-designated intangible folk cultural property. Visitors can watch the daytime rite and performances, but the most distinctive sequence begins with the lamp lighting at 19:40 and fireworks at 20:00.
- Tuesday, August 25, 2026; program 11:30–21:00
- Sentomyo lamps at 19:40; about 400 fireworks from 20:00
- Fireworks planned to move to August 26 if rain prevents the show
- About 20 minutes on foot or 5 minutes by taxi from Hainuzuka Station
Information checked on August 10, 2026 against the shrine’s official 2026 poster, official access page and Chikugo tourism information.
2026 festival schedule and venue
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | Tuesday, August 25, 2026 |
| Festival rite | 11:30 |
| Community stage | From 16:15; program begins at 16:40 |
| Sentomyo lighting | 19:40 |
| Fireworks | 20:00–around 21:00; approximately 400 shots |
| Venue | Mizuta Tenmangu, 62-1 Mizuta, Chikugo City |
| Rain plan | Fireworks planned for Wednesday, August 26; outdoor stage may be cancelled |
What the one thousand lamps mean
The festival is said to have about 700 years of history and continues a prayer for a good harvest and household safety. Scallop shells hold rapeseed oil and wicks; once lit, the small flames form large outlines around the shrine grounds.
Local groups also take part in hadaka-gyo processions and worship. This is an active religious tradition, so give participants room, do not enter lamp arrangements and avoid blocking shrine approaches for photographs.
Access from Fukuoka and Chikugo
Hainuzuka Station on the JR Kagoshima Main Line is the nearest railway station listed by the shrine: about 20 minutes on foot or five minutes by taxi. Chikugo-Funagoya Station is about eight minutes by car. Train travellers should check the return timetable before the evening program ends.
Temporary parking is limited and opens at different times. The official poster lists signed areas near the shrine and additional spaces from 17:00 or 18:00. Arrive early, follow staff and signs, and never park on nearby roads or private property.
Heat, rain and viewing etiquette
Late August evenings remain hot and humid. Carry water, use sun protection if arriving for the afternoon program and take breaks before the lantern lighting. Outdoor stage events may be cancelled in rain even when other rites continue.
The flames and fireworks are close to a historic shrine setting. Follow barriers and staff instructions, keep children away from open flames and do not use a tripod where it narrows a busy path.
- Confirm postponement or cancellation on the shrine’s official page before travel.
- Bring cash as a precaution for small local stalls; payment methods have not been announced.
- Use quiet voices during rites and worship.
- Take all rubbish with you or use only designated collection points.
Official information and nearby plans
Use the shrine’s current notice for weather decisions. These guides can help combine the festival with Chikugo-area travel.
