Kigyosai Festival Yahata2025

Held in early November, this festival is one of Kitakyushu’s most iconic autumn events. It began as a ceremony to commemorate the opening of operations at the government-run Yawata Steel Works, and since 1985 has been celebrated as a community festival featuring a wide variety of attractions. Every year, it draws more than 600,000 visitors. Around Otani Baseball Stadium, about 300 food and game stalls line the streets, while events such as the “25-Hour Ekiden Relay,” dance contests, and character shows take place one after another. The grand finale is a spectacular fireworks display.Another highlight is the special guided tour of the Yawata Steel Works, normally closed to the public. Visitors can witness the dramatic process in which glowing red-hot steel slabs are transformed into Shinkansen rails and steel sheet piles for construction.