Life in Fukuoka "English"

【Hakata Dontaku Port Festival】

Coming up in just about a week is the "Hakata Dontaku Port Festival" , a traditional festival that livens up the Golden Week even more in Fukuoka! Known as the "festival for the citizens of Fukuoka," this year it will be held over two days on May 3rd and 4th.

 This festival, which has a history of over 840 years, originates from Hakata's traditional performance art called "Matsubayashi." It is famous for its unique parade where people dressed in vibrant costumes dance and march through the town holding a "shamoji" or rice paddle that they use in their dance.

In addition to the parade, various events are held throughout the city, including performances of traditional arts, live artist shows, and food stalls that operate all day, offering Fukuoka specialties like Umegae Mochi.

The "Hakata Dontaku Port Festival" attracts many tourists from both Japan and abroad, bustling with over 2 million people each year. It's an excellent opportunity to experience the history, culture, and vitality of Hakata. So, if you are here in Fukuoka over the Golden Week, definitely go and check it out.

【Fukuoka City Information】

I guess like me, many of you probably ride bicycles on a regular basis.
If you are new here, do you know the rules and manners around riding bicycles here in Japan?
 
In Japan, bicycles, as a rule, are supposed to ride on the left side of the roadway.
Pedestrians have priority on sidewalks, so when riding on sidewalks, please ride slowly on the side of the road.
All bicyclists should wear helmets and you need to make sure you have a bicycle light to turn on at night.

Two people riding on one bicycle or riding side by side is prohibited. It is also important to never drink alcohol and then ride a bicycle.

One more thing is to make sure you don't ride a bicycle while holding an umbrella, using a cell phone or even listening to headphones as doing any of these things while riding is dangerous. 

If you need to park your bicycle, make sure it is parked in a bicycle parking lot.
Bicycles parked in areas other than bicycle parking lots, like on streets or in parks , are considered to be obstructive or a nuisance to pedestrians and end up being considered abandoned bicycles and can be subject to removal.
　 Fukuoka City charges a fee of 2,500 yen to have a removed bicycle returned, and if it is not picked up within a certain period of time, it will be disposed of.
Fortunately, to keep your bicycle safe, there are a number of parking areas near shopping malls and stations that offer free parking for a set period of time.

Another thing to know about cycling here is that, anyone who rides a bicycle in Fukuoka City must purchase bicycle insurance.
If you have an accident on your bicycle, you may have to pay a lot of money to the other party involved in the accident. If you have bicycle insurance, for example, if you injure someone while riding your bicycle, the insurance will pay for medical treatment and other expenses instead of you. So, make sure you have bicycle insurance in case of an accident.

Bicycles are a great way to get around and are environmentally friendly, but it's important to know the rules and manners as well to have a safe ride around the city!