Featured Events in Kitakyushu in May 2025 (August Updated)

The Rose Festival aims to be the most beautiful rose festival in Japan. About 510 varieties and 3,100 roses will bloom, creating a spectacular sight with the most roses in the year. [Major events] ・Food Truck Food Festival (May 10th and 11th) ・Night Rose Garden (May 16th, 17th, 18th, 23rd, 24th and 25th) ・Flower and Plant Workshop (May 17th, 18th, 23rd and 24th) ・Stage performance by comedian Yoshio Kojima (May 31st) ・Melted Cheese Festival (June 7th and 8th)

An exhibition will be held to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Watase Seizo, an artist associated with Kitakyushu and honorary director of the Manga Museum. Since his debut in 1974, Watase has continued to draw colorful worlds. The exhibition will feature all 24 of his recently completed “Tokyo Koyomi” and “Kyo Koyomi,” which depict long-distance romances set in Tokyo and Kyoto, as well as “Heart Cocktail” and rare manga manuscripts and materials from his pre “Heart Cocktail” nonsense manga days. Please come and see the trajectory of Watase Seizo.

Yamada Ryokuchi will extend its opening hours to coincide with the firefly viewing season and will host the 2025 Yamada Firefly Festival. The nine-day "Special Guided Firefly Discovery Tour" will be held throughout, and advance registration is required. You can listen to the guide's explanation while observing the Genji and Heike fireflies that inhabit Yamada Ryokuchi.