The Hanzakai Festival is held every year on the Saturday and Sunday of the week before Golden Week in April.

At this festival, you can catch a glimpse of history as the charm and highlights of this “town on the domain border” come to life all at once, and experience the warm hospitality of its people.

This town, which can be explored in about twenty minutes on foot, was once divided during the Edo period (1603–1868) between Kobo of the Yanagawa Domain and Enokizu of the Kurume Domain, located side by side. Each side had its own port and guard station, and the streets were crowded with people involved in shipbuilding and woodworking, as well as shops selling everyday goods. It was a lively and prosperous town, and the Hanzakai Festival allows visitors to experience the treasures and culture that have been preserved since those days.

In 2026, the festival will be held on April 18 (Sat) and April 19 (Sun).
Be sure to come and visit.

Here we look back at the 2025 Hanzakai Festival and introduce some of its highlights.

(1) Hidden treasures and master craftsmanship inside historic buildings rarely open to the public

During the Hanzakai Festival, cultural properties, old houses, and craftsmen’s workshops are opened to the public, and treasures that have been passed down through generations are displayed. Visitors can truly feel how rich the history of this town is.

◯ Nakamura Paper Shop

At Nakamura Paper Shop, run by Mr. Nakamura, the chairman of the Kobo–Enokizu Clan Boundary Town Preservation Society, visitors can see items such as account books that were once actually used, old currency, and a ceremonial banner made in 1922 to celebrate the birth of Ukichi, the sixth generation of the Nakamura family.
One impressive banner depicts the Battle of Sekigahara (1600) across a length of about 10 meters and features more than 70 warlords. It is said that the banner was once displayed wrapped around the house. The parents’ wish for their child to grow up healthy was expressed in this magnificent form.

◯ Shobun Vinegar / Takahashi Residence

At Shobun Vinegar, which has a history of more than 300 years, the vinegar brewery tour, usually a paid activity, was offered free of charge during the Hanzakai Festival. Treasures passed down through generations were also displayed in the shop and in the residential areas that are normally closed to the public.
Visitors were also served matcha tea and sweets in a tea room while enjoying the view of the garden.

◯ Kinoshita Family Storehouse

Inside the storehouse, which is normally closed to the public, visitors can find Arita porcelain, Japanese ceramics, antique goods, and retro items from the Showa era (1926–1989). With their reasonable prices, it is a fun place to enjoy shopping. During the Hanzakai Festival, impressive samurai helmets were displayed on the second floor.

◯ Miyazaki Joinery

Founded in 1927, this long-established joinery shop is now run by the third-generation owner, Hiroki Miyazaki. With skillful woodworking techniques and a focus on practical design, he not only creates traditional wooden fittings but has also worked on interiors for cafés and luxury sightseeing trains.
While continually challenging himself with new creations, he passes on the techniques of traditional craftsmanship. Visitors can also try making a small wooden box and experience the craftsman’s skills firsthand.

◯ Korakuji Temple

During the festival, not only cultural properties but also places normally closed to the public are opened. Temples that are usually accessible only to parishioners can also be visited.
Korakuji Temple, founded in 1624 by Tachibana Muneshige, the former lord of the Yanagawa Domain, and said to have been rebuilt in 1847, features an extraordinary ceiling in its main hall. There are 163 painted wooden panels depicting animals, plants, and people.

(2) Events that highlight history and culture

This town is full of historical episodes and traditional events that have been passed down to the present day.

◯ The Ino Tadataka Troupe

Ino Tadataka, who is said to have created the first map of Japan, retired at the age of fifty and then studied astronomy and surveying. He traveled throughout the country and eventually completed his map.
Records show that he also visited this boundary town, as noted in his surveying diary. During the Hanzakai Festival, a troupe portraying Ino Tadataka makes an appearance.

◯ Hiyoshi Shrine Boat Mikoshi Procession

The 23rd Hanzakai Festival featured a historic ritual that will be remembered for years to come.
For the first time in more than 30 years, the Hiyoshi Shrine Boat Mikoshi Procession was held on April 20.
The boat-shaped portable shrine (mikoshi) from Hiyoshi Shrine in the Enokizu district (Kurume Domain) crossed the former domain boundary and, for the first time, passed through the Kobo district (Yanagawa Domain), circling the town.

◯ Hana Matsuri and the Chigo Parade

The Hana Matsuri (Flower Festival) celebrating the birthday of Buddha is also held during the Hanzakai Festival. In 2025, it took place on April 19, the first day of the event.
At Jofukuji Temple, which is registered as a national Tangible Cultural Property, a small hall housing a Buddha statue is set up, and visitors pour sweet tea over the statue as an offering.
Children dressed in Heian-period (794–1185) ceremonial costumes then take part in the Chigo parade, walking through the town. A white elephant, believed to have carried the Buddha, also appears. These sacred rituals are performed to pray for children’s healthy growth and for abundant harvests.