Oita is Japan’s onsen capital — Beppu and Yufuin between them pour out more hot-spring water than anywhere else in the country — and its 2026 event calendar reflects that steamy character. A spring festival celebrates the hot springs themselves, summer brings fireworks over Beppu Bay, and autumn glows with thousands of bamboo lanterns in a castle town. Add the ever-bubbling “hells” of Beppu, and Oita rewards a well-timed 2026 trip. This guide gathers the events worth planning around, with a month-by-month calendar at the end.
A note on dates: Confirmed 2026 dates are given where announced. Festival and firework dates can shift for weather or organiser decisions, and ticketed events sell out — always confirm on the official website before building a day around one.
Beppu Hinoumi Festival Fireworks (べっぷ火の海まつり納涼花火大会) — July 26, 2026 ⭐
Beppu’s big summer fireworks night, launched over Beppu Bay. 2026 date: July 26, with 8,888 shells lighting the water and the onsen-town skyline. Part of the wider Beppu summer festival, it draws big crowds to the seafront — arrive early for a good spot, or reserve paid seating. Combine with an evening in the steam of the town’s baths.
Beppu Onsen Festival (別府八湯温泉まつり) — early April
A festival that celebrates the hot springs themselves, held over a spring weekend (usually early April). Highlights include free entry to many of Beppu’s baths, a lively mikoshi procession, and the ougi-yama hot-water blessing — plus the famous yu-bukake free-for-all where crowds douse each other in hot spring water. Warm, wet, and joyously local. Confirm the exact 2026 dates on the city’s site.
Hita Gion Festival (日田祇園祭) — July 2026
In the preserved merchant town of Hita (Mameda-machi), this UNESCO-inscribed festival sends towering yamaboko floats — decorated by day and lantern-lit by night — through the old streets to Gion music. Held on a July weekend (traditionally around July 20–21); confirm 2026 dates. A refined counterpart to Beppu’s onsen revelry.
Usuki Takeyoi (臼杵竹宵) — early November 2026
One of Kyushu’s most beautiful autumn events: for two evenings in early November, the castle town of Usuki is lit by tens of thousands of take-toro (bamboo lanterns) lining the streets and temple approaches, with an “Onijo-sama” procession. The warm glow through the historic town is unforgettable. Confirm the 2026 weekend on the Usuki tourism site; combine with the Usuki Stone Buddhas.
Beppu Hells (地獄めぐり) — year-round
Not an event but a signature Oita spectacle: the jigoku (“hells”) of Beppu are seven vividly coloured hot springs — cobalt-blue, blood-red, steaming grey — too hot for bathing but astonishing to see, each a short walk or bus ride apart in the Kannawa district. Open year-round; a classic half-day, best paired with a steam-cooked jigoku-mushi meal.
Cherry Blossom Season (Spring 2026)
Oita’s blossoms peak in late March to early April, overlapping the Onsen Festival.
- Oka Castle ruins (Taketa) — cherries over dramatic stone ramparts
- Usuki and Kitsuki castle towns
- Beppu Park and the city’s parks
Autumn Leaves (Nov 2026)
- Yabakei Gorge (Nakatsu) — one of Japan’s great autumn gorges, with the Ao-no-Domon tunnel; peaks early-to-mid November
- Kuju highlands and Aso-Kuju — mountain colour from mid-October
- Usuki temples around the Takeyoi season
Winter & New Year
- Hatsumode at Usa Jingu — the head of Japan’s ~40,000 Hachiman shrines — and Beppu’s shrines
- Onsen season is at its cosiest in winter, from Beppu’s sand and steam baths to Yufuin’s ryokan
- Beppu’s illuminations and the “hells” steaming against cold skies
Month-by-Month Calendar (2026)
| Month | Key events |
|---|---|
| January | Hatsumode at Usa Jingu; onsen season |
| February | Plum blossoms; quiet onsen months |
| March | Cherry blossoms begin |
| April | Beppu Onsen Festival (early April); cherry blossom peak |
| May | Fresh-green season; Kuju highland hiking |
| June | Rainy season; hydrangeas |
| July | Hita Gion Festival; Beppu Hinoumi Fireworks Jul 26 |
| August | Summer festivals; beach and onsen season |
| September | Early autumn; typhoon season |
| October | Kuju & Aso autumn begins |
| November | Usuki Takeyoi (early Nov); Yabakei autumn leaves |
| December | Onsen season; year-end; New Year prep |
Practical Tips
- Book ahead for the Beppu fireworks and Onsen Festival. Late July (fireworks) and the April festival fill Beppu’s accommodation; reserve seating for the fireworks.
- Confirm every date on the official site. Firework and festival dates move for weather; the Hita Gion and Usuki Takeyoi weekends should be checked each year.
- Beppu is a working onsen town. Balance the sights (Hells, fireworks) with actual baths — sand baths, steam baths, and the Kannawa steam-cooking are the real Oita experience.
- Usuki Takeyoi is an evening event. Go after dark for the lantern glow, and expect crowds in the narrow streets.
- Summer heat. July–August events are hot and humid; water, a hat, and a fan are essentials.
