Here are a few events to help you start of the Year of the Monkey off right!

Circle Time!!!!

• Details: Come out and join us for the first Circle Time of the New Year!! Please come 20-30 minutes early to help set up and stay after to clean up and grab lunch!
• When: January 17, 13:00 to 14:00
• Where: Saga International Plaza

New Year’s Countdown Party at Hard Rock Cafe

• When: December 31, 22:00 to January 1, 1:00
• Where: Hard Rock Cafe Fukuoka
• Cost: 5000 yen in advance, 5500 yen at the door (both include food and one drink)
• Facebook event page

Celebrate the New Year at Saga Shrine with a Cannon

• Details: 8 shots will be fired at midnight from a cannon made by the Nabeshima Clan
• When: December 31, 23:30
• Where: Saga Shrine

Arita Ceramic Lights

• Details: 1000 paper and porcelain lanterns will be set up, and local food “snow soup” will be served
• When: December 31, 23:00 to January 1, 2:00
• Where: Sueyama Shrine

Taku Confucian Temple Fire Festival

• Details: Pray for good health in the new year and drink ginger tea
• When: December 31 to January 1 (it doesn’t state the time, but likely over midnight)
• Where: Taku Confucian Temple

New Year’s Event

• Details: A drum performance by a local group and mochi making demonstration with rice grown at the park. Free mochi to the first 200 visitors.
• When: January 1
• Where: Yoshinogari Historical Park, East Gate

Takezaki Kanzeon Temple’s Shushoe New Year’s Event: Ogre Festival

• When: January 2 and 3
• Where: Takezaki Kanzeon Temple

Taku-san Aquarium ~Town Aquarium~

• When: Sundays from October 22 to January 24, 11:00 to 17:00, minus January
• Where: Art Studio Bondoba
• Cost: One drink order required (500 yen)

Hatatsu Oyster BBQ

• Details: Barbeque your own oysters, Imari beef and more!
• When: All Saturdays and Sundays from November 3 to February 28, 10:00 to 16:00
• Where: Hatatsu Fureai Space in Imari
• Website

Shine On! Imari Illumination

• When: November 28 to February 14, 17:00 to 23:00
• Where: Near Imari Station

Ceramics Event in Celebration of the 400th Anniversary of Arita Porcelain

• When: Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays from December 5 to February 14, excluding 29 to 31 and January 12, 9:15 to 17:15
• Where: Yumeginga
• Cost: 100 yen, limit of 20 people per day

Items of the Shogun for New Year’s

• Details: A number of items used by the Nabeshima family to enjoy New Year’s Day.
• When: January 4 to 30, 9:30 to 16:00, closed Sundays and holidays
• Where: Chokokan
• Website

Onja Onja Spring Festival

• When: January 7, purification ritual at 14:00, walking the town with torches at 18:00
• Where: Karatsu Tenmangu

New Year’s Fire Fighter Event in Karatsu

• When: January 10, 9:00 to 12:00
• Where: Around Symbol Road in front of Karatsu Station, Karatsu City Hall and Karatsu Community Hall

New Year’s Fire Fighter Event in Tosu

• When: January 10, 8:30 to 11:00
• Where: Tosu City Hall

Saga Light Fantasy Closing Concert

• When: January 11, 18:00 ~
• Where: Tojin Machi Machikado Square

Bonfire to Burn New Year’s Decorations and Pray for Health

• When: January 15, 18:00 to 20:00
• Where: Saga Shrine

40th Ureshino Onsen Health Race

• When: January 17,8:00 to 10:00
• Where: Ureshino City Gymnasium
• Cost: 1500 yen, registration in advance required
• Website

Saga Balloon Meeting

• Details: You can see balloons up close, and the first 200 can ride a balloon for 500 yen.
• When: January 18
• Where: Kasegawa Riverbed Launch Site

Enjoy First the Fragrance of the Year

• When: January 24, from 10:00, 11:00, 13:00 and 14:00 (choose one time slot)
• Where: Chokokan
• Cost: 1000 yen
• Register: 0952-23-4200, maximum of 20 participants

Momote Festival

• Details: Arrows are shot into targets to predict how 2016 will go.
• When: January 25
• Where: Kanzaki-Machi Yokotake Otsuryu Shrine

Ureshino Attakamatsuri

• When: January 30 to February 14
• Where: Ureshino
• Website

Ureshino City 10th Anniversary Event

• When: January 31, 9:30 to 16:30
• Where: Ribati (The Ureshino Cultural Hall)
• Tickets: Required for entrance. Distribution locations can be found on the website

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