The 54rd Kannawa Yuami Festival

The 54th Kannawa Yuami Festival is going to be held this weekend ( Sep. 21st 〜23rd） in Kannawa Onsen Area to thank 'Ippen Shonin', a notable Buddhist priest, for his dedication to the development of Kannawa Onsen. This area has flourished as an ONSEN resort, since 'Ippen Shonin' developed it in the 13th century.

 'Ippen Shonin' founded 'Onsenzan-Eifukuji'



During the festival,  the Kannawa locals wash and clean the wooden statue of 'Ippen Shonin', which is usually kept in 'Onsenzan-Eifukuji' Temple, in hot-spring facilities such as 'Mushiyu' and 'Shibunoyu'. This Buddhism ceremony called as 'Yuami-Houyou'  is  held on Sep.23.

▼Other events on Sep. 21st〜 23rd
●　Rice cake making : Sep 21 11:00〜
●　Flea market : Sep. 22 　10:00〜17：00
●　Dedicatory dances : Sep. 22　19：00〜20：30
●　Free admission to Mushiyu : Sep 23 6:30〜20:00
●　The chigo Parade : Sep. 23　11：30〜

See Beppu Navi for photos taken in the last year event.. 
Please visit FTIO Kannawa Office for more information.

(AW)

Hamawaki Yakushi Festival

Hamawaki Yakushi Matsuri, a local community festival in Beppu, is going to take place in Hamawaki Onsen area this weekend  (8/30〜9/1). This will hold a service for Hamawaki Yakushi Nyorai (Healing Budda).

Major events:

● 'Oiran' parade:  8 p.m., August 31th
People wearing  kimono will parade throughout the town.　
In case of rain, this parade will be postponed to the following day.

● Admission Free for Hamawaki Onsen:  August 30th 〜 September 1st

● 'Furyuu Mitate Zaiku' display:  August 26th 〜　September 1st.
More than 20 works made of bamboo, plastic and other matelials by local residents are displayed.  These works are designated as a Beppu City's intangible folklore cultural asset.

▼　Beppu Navi 　Last year's photos are on this site.


(AW)

An exhibition of works by woodblock artist, "Mr. Ezaki Mitsuru"

Open: 7/20(Sat.) - 7/28(Sun.) 
Time : 10:00 - 17:00 everyday  / last day 7/28(Sun.) until 15:00
Entrance fee : Free
Place : Fujiya Gallery "Hanayamomo" at Kannawa Onsen area, 
           about 20-minute bus ride from Beppu station

Further information of this exhibition is available at three FTIO offices in Beppu city.

A poster of this exhibition

At the entrance of Gallery

His works at 2F

(TG)

Beppu Today, 2013 April 8th, Ohgiyama Fire Festival

  Mt. Ohgi Fire Festival was held today.

  Mt. Ohgi is named after the shape of reversed fan (Ohgi is fan).

Mt. Ohgi before the fire festival

 The fire festival started at 6:30PM and the pilot fire used to light was  lit in Asami Shrine on April 1st when the ritual for Onsen Festival opening was held.

People in Happi coat in the shrine attended the ritual on April 1st.

 The picture below was taken an hour after the festival started.

(GH)

Beppu Onsen Festival in downtown (2013)

 Today was the last day of Beppu Onsen Festival, and Yukemuri parade was held in down town.
 
          note) Mt. Ohgi Fire Festival that was originally planed on April 6th will be held
                    on April 8th 2013, if weather permit

 The shrine ritual was practiced before staring the parade in front of JR Beppu station.

 Kagamibiraki, that is performed at celebratory occasions in which the lid of sake barrel is broken open by wooden mallets and the people gathered drink the sake from the sake barrel and celebrate together, was also held.

 Something written on the back of Happi coat is "Beppu Hatto Onsen FESTIVAL."

Carrying Mikoshi (a portable Shinto Shrine)

 

 

 

 

in Beppu JR station

A samurai warrior and Tengu (a long‐nosed goblin ) were walking together.

Jungle bus from Arican Safari took part in the parade.

Dance performers.

Mochimaki from long nosed goblin portable shrine in front of Tokiwa Departmentstore.
Mochimaki is an event of scattering rice cakes for people who come to a Shinto ritual.
In the picture, people stretched their hands and tried to catch rice cakes.
Fortunately, I catched a rice cake.

Open booths in Kaimonji park.

   (GH)

Mt.Ogi Fire Festival

Mt. Ogi Fire Festival (Field burning), which is one of the major events of ‘Beppu Hatto hot spring festival’, is held on April 6^th this year. 

                                            ＊It will be postponed until  7^th or  8^th  in case of rain.

The mighty flame is a special attraction of spring in Beppu.

It is said that this festival has been held every year since 1976 in order to indicate the beginning of spring to the gods of hot spring. 

●　Start time : 18:30

●　View points :  Ogi-yama Golf Club

                             Global tower

                             Beppu Vista-Hot Spring Steam (the observation deck)

Please ask details at FTIO offices.                              (AW)

Beppu Today, 2013 Feb. 24th, Beppu Kannawa night scenery

  I showed pictures taken in Kannawa (Beppu city) before. It was daytime.
       
        Kannawa-walking-map
        Ideyuzaka

  Today, I walked the streets  around 8PM.
The night scenes in Kannawa were fantastic.

<Buildings>

   Buildings were lit by warm street lamps.
Yukemuri was always with them.




Steam cooking facility-1 (Jigoku mushi kobo)

Steam cooking facility-2

Foot bath/ Steam foot bath Onsen



Kannawa Mushiyu (steam bath)










<White Steam (or Yukemuri) lightening>

Usually, Yukemuri is lit up on Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays, 19:00 - 21:00.

    (From Mar 1st to Apr 7th in 2013, Yukemuri is illuminated everyday.)

     


Steam lightening-1 (Saturdays and Sundays 19:00 - 21:00)



Steam lightening-2

Steam lightening-3


                                                                        (GH)

Beppu Today, Dec 23rd, Christmas Hanabi Fantasia

  It was very cold but the Fantasia attracted many people in and outside Beppu. The fireworks today were for families and some of them were in the shape of Santa Claus, Christmas Tree, reindeer and etc. 
  The photos were taken from Mochigahama Beach.
  The fireworks will be held tomorrow (Dec 24th) again.



Beppu Tower is pictured right



Santa's face



a reindeer

shape of heart

                                                                                              (GH)

Beppu Today, Dec 19th, Tohsuisai in Beppu Park

  Tohsuisai started on Dec. 15th (Sat) in Beppu park. I visited there today.

   It was 5:10 pm when I arrived in the park. 
   The lights were turned on. The park showed another face.
People began gathering to see the illumination.

  At 5:50 pm, the castle of light emerged from the dark.
The silhouette of Mr Tsurumi and Global tower against the sky enhanced the beauty of the illumination.

                          (GH)

Events in December 2012

Beppu Christmas Hanabe(firework) Fantasia 2012

      Date : December 23rd and 24th
      Time: 20:00 - 21:00
      Place: Spa beach (main site) and Matogahama park etc.

6th Beppu Tohsuisai

      Beppu Park will be illuminated from 2012 Dec. 15th (Sat) to 2013 Jan. 18th (Fri).
      The Lighting ceremony is 18:30 on Dec. 15th.
      
                                                                                             (GH)
    

Fantastic world of lights 2012

The illumination presented by the Suginoi Hotel was upgraded to 1,100,000 LED bulbs' power this year. The number is 1.5 times more than last year. (See pictures of last year at  http://beppuftio.blogspot.jp/2011/12/fantastic-world-of-lights.html)
It is worth visiting to see them especially during the Christmas season.

Suginoi Hotel is located in Kankaiji Onsen area. It it15 minutes bus ride from JR Beppu station. Please ask details at any FTIO office.

(KO/AW)

Beppu Today, Mix Bathing World 2012

  At the beginning of this month, I took pictures of the towers of Babel in the street of  Sol Paseo Ginza St. and Yayoi Tengu dori (the towers are a part of arts in Mix Bathing World 2012).  At that time, I found just five towers. I came back to the streets and tried to fine the rest of them, I could not do though. The pictures shown below are what I found today.
  This is just my opinion but, it is the "tower year" this year here in Japan because Tokyo Skytree opened this spring and it has been attracting many tourists from all over Japan and some from foreign countries. Towers and the sceneries from them are always attractive for us who cannot fly like a bird.
   Coincidentally, we have almost 20 artistic towers in Beppu.  They are not so high but they all have a presence because they use the items in the shops. I felt that they are alive because they are placed in the right place. I was very happy. 





The tower of fluorescent lights is in front of old photos of Beppu.

The tower in the pharmacy uses bottles of energy drink



The tower is in front of a Japanese Kimono shop

The tower is in a Japanese Kimono shop



The tower is in a Japanese sweet shop

The tower in a restaurant

The tower in a cake shop

                                                                                                                              (GH)