Kanoura’s fire festival, where Genpei lantern designs appear on two mountains
Hittaka
The 2026 edition of Hittaka has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/05/30Ended
- Season / frequency
- The Saturday night closest to day 5 of lunar month 5. It is usually held from late May to early June. / Every year
- Location
- Kanoura District
- Area
- Okayama Prefecture・Kasaoka City(From Tokyo: approx. 3 h 10 min–3 h 40 min · bullet train)Prefecture-level estimate to a main station or airport, not the venue. Airport access, check-in and onward travel are extra; remote areas and islands can take much longer.
- Features
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Participation fee
- Free
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
A traditional event in which lantern designs representing the Genji and Heike sides appear on the mountainsides of Kanoura District, Kasaoka.
About Hittaka
Hittaka is a traditional fire festival passed down in Kanoura District, Kasaoka, Okayama Prefecture.
Wooden frames are set up halfway up Gyoja-yama and Myoken-yama, on opposite sides of the Yoshida River, and around 300–400 lanterns illuminate designs.
In this event, the Genji and Heike sides compete with their designs. It is designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Kasaoka City.
Source: 金浦のヒッタカ - 笠岡市ホームページ
Festival highlights
The highlight is seeing lantern designs appear on the mountainsides at night.
Gyoja-yama represents the Genji side and Myoken-yama the Heike side, and each mountain displays an elaborately created design.
The designs are kept secret until the day of the event and often depict topics that have been in the news that year, so seeing what images appear is part of the fun.
Source: 国指定文化財等データベース
Kanoura’s fire festival, where Genpei lantern designs appear on two mountains
What to expect
On the night of the festival, the community is divided into eastern and western sides. Each side hangs lanterns on wooden frames set up halfway up a mountain, lights them, and displays its design.
The designs are kept secret until the day of the event, and after the lanterns are lit, the two sides compare their creations.
Stalls line the streets of Kanoura at night, and the related event Oshigurango is held in Kanoura Bay the following day.
How to take part
Visitors can watch the lanterns being lit and see the designs displayed in Kanoura District.
The creation of Hittaka and the design competition are community preservation activities, so visitors should check whether they can participate in creating the designs.
Local elementary, junior high, and university students take part in the Oshigurango the following day, with the preservation association playing a central role.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Kinoura district, Kasaoka City, Okayama Prefecture.
The lantern picture patterns can be viewed from around the streets of Kinoura and along the river.
- Train and bus
From Kasaoka Station on the JR Sanyo Main Line, head west along National Route 2 for about 1.5 km.
From in front of Kasaoka Station, take a bus bound for Fukuyama Station via Tsubo, or for Ibara via Kinoura, and get off at Kinouraguchi or Nishihama (Yosuna).
- By car
According to the 2026 information, vehicle access (including bicycles) is prohibited from 7 p.m. on the festival day.
- Parking
According to the 2026 information, the planned parking areas are the former Technical Training Center, an open lot owned by Kasaoka Gakuen, and Day Service Center Yotsuba Yoshihama.
Source: ヒッタカ | 岡山県 | 日本の文化遺産を探す｜国宝・重要文化財データベース
Address Kanoura District, Kasaoka, Okayama Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
In 2026, Hittaka was scheduled to take place in Kanoura District from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on May 30 (Saturday).
In case of rain, it is scheduled to be postponed until the following day or June 6 (Saturday).
The related event, Oshigurango, was scheduled to take place in Kanoura Bay from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 31 (Sunday).
Accommodation and hotels PR
Showing nearby accommodation.
Prices and availability are current at the time of retrieval. For multi-night stays, only the first night’s price is shown. Confirm the final price and directions to the venue with the booking provider. Select your dates again when using the area search link. Search area: within 3 km of Central Okayama Prefecture / Kasaoka City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
As the event features lanterns lit on a mountainside at night, watch your footing and be mindful of other visitors.
In 2026, traffic restrictions prohibiting vehicle entry were scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., so if you are driving into the district, take care to plan your journey around the restriction.
The event may be postponed in case of rain, so check its status on the day.
Nearby attractions
Kanoura District was once a prosperous port town known for fishing and shipping, and its streets still preserve old townscapes dating back to the Edo period.
In Kasaoka City, you can visit the Kasaoka Islands in the Seto Inland Sea, including islands such as Kitagi Island and Manabe Island.
Kasaoka Bay Reclaimed Land is home to Dinosaur Park and the Kasaoka City Horseshoe Crab Museum. A local food specialty is Kasaoka ramen, known for its chicken-bone-based soy sauce broth.
井笠鉄道記念館
日本の岡山県笠岡市にある鉄道保存展示施設
笠岡市立カブトガニ博物館
岡山県笠岡市にある博物館
Origins and History of Hittaka
Hittaka was originally held on day 5 of lunar month 5 and is now held on a Saturday night close to that date.
Much about its history is unclear, but it is said to have originated in the Genpei War.
It is believed to stem from a tale in which the Heike side lit a huge bonfire on a mountain to make their forces appear larger; the name is said to come from the phrase “build a fire high.”
Official information
The 2026 event information can be found on Kasaoka Tourism WEB under “Reiwa 8 Kanoura Festival: Hittaka and Oshigurango.”
An overview of the festival’s cultural heritage designation and its origins is available on Kasaoka City’s website under “Hittaka of Kanoura.”
Hittaka at a Glance
Hittaka is a fire festival passed down in Kanoura District, Kasaoka, and linked to traditions of the Genpei War.
Around 300–400 lanterns are used to create designs on Gyoja-yama and Myoken-yama, and the two sides compete to see whose display is better.
In 2026, the event was scheduled to take place at night on May 30, with the traditional Japanese boat race Oshigurango planned in Kanoura Bay the following day.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/19
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