The Hyotan Festival took place on December 7, 2025, in Chitose-cho, Bungoono City, Oita Prefecture.
Properly called the “Shimotsuki Festival,” it is popularly known as the Hyotan Festival after the gourd-shaped figures that play the central role.

This festival has been celebrated for more than 800 years in the Chitose-machi Takahata and Shibayama area around Shibayama Hachimansha Shrine in Chitose-cho, Bungoono City.
A figure wearing a long gourd on the head, with a large gourd of sacred sake hung from the shoulder and wearing oversized straw sandals, leads a procession through the shrine approach with attendants such as a sacred horse and lion dancers, chanting “Yoisho, yoisho” in unison. The Hyotan figure offers sacred sake from the shoulder-hung large gourd to people along the route, praying for health, safety, and abundant harvests.
In addition to the procession, performances such as lion dances and kagura were held.

■■ Access to central Bungoono City from Fukuoka and Kumamoto Prefectures ■■
From JR Hakata Station in Fukuoka Prefecture: about a 3-hour drive.
From JR Kumamoto Station in Kumamoto Prefecture: about a 2-hour drive.
From beppu station in Oita Prefecture: about a 1 hour 20 minute drive.
From Yufuin Station in Oita Prefecture: about a 1 hour 20 minute drive.

■■■■■■■■■■■■
Introducing tourism and recommended spots in Kyushu’s Bungoono City, Oita Prefecture
■■■■■■■■■■■■