Shiga and Fukuoka host summer festivals with food stalls and traditional dances

On July 20, 2026, Shiga Prefecture’s Noto station plaza held the "Noto Fes in Summer 2026". Attendees enjoyed typical festival foods such as yakisoba, yakitori, grilled squid, corn, frankfurts and shaved ice, while music performances filled the area. After dusk, a traditional local dance, the Esu Ondo, was performed as part of the event’s closing celebration.

From August 3 to 5, 2026, Kurume City in Fukuoka Prefecture hosted the 55th Water Festival "Kurume Matsuri". The three‑day program included a parade, street performances, a large‑scale drumming concert and an attempt to set a Guinness World Record for the "largest abacus dance" involving thousands of participants. The festival concluded with the 367th Chikugo River fireworks display on August 5.