[2023 Latest] Kurume's illumination "Hotomeki Fantasy" will start lighting up on December 8th! Information on new gourmet spots too

We are currently introducing illuminations from all over Fukuoka Prefecture.

This time, we will be introducing Kurume City's illumination event "Hotomeki Fantasy," which begins tomorrow, Friday, December 8, 2023.

*The image is from the past.

The 19th Kurume Light Festival "Hotomeki Fantasy" will be held from Friday, December 8, 2023 to Sunday, February 18, 2024!

The 19th Kurume Light Festival "Hotomeki Fantasy" will be held from Friday, December 8th, 2023 to Sunday, February 18th, 2024.

This illumination event will take place mainly at the east exit plaza of Nishitetsu Kurume Station and Meiji-dori (from Nishitetsu Kurume Station to Mutsumon), and will light up an area of about 1km of downtown Kurume with approximately 400,000 lights.

Image: Kurume City PR Office

This event began in 2005 and is visited by many people from inside and outside the prefecture every year. The last time (2022-2023), twice as many electric lights were used as the previous year, and it is said that a total of about 270,000 people visited during the period, the highest number ever!

This year marks the 19th time the event has been held, and the city will be decorated with illuminations in the main color blue, and a 2.4m-tall Christmas tree and other decorations will be set up at the east exit of Nishitetsu Kurume Station. There will also be many other things to make the illuminations even more enjoyable, such as photo spots that will look great on social media, a collaborative project with Kurume Institute of Technology, and a virtual photo spot called "Cat Maneki" that uses the latest AR technology.

Image: Kurume City PR Office

Except for the first day, the lights are on from 17:00 to 24:00.

Illumination lighting ceremony to be held on Friday, December 8, 2023!

There will also be an illumination lighting ceremony from 3:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, December 8, 2023, the first day of the lights on.

At Kurume City Plaza Rokkakudo Square, there will be stage events, a big raffle with the chance to win original goods, food and drink booths where you can enjoy Kurume's gourmet food, food trucks, and goods designed by creator Pantobisco (Kurume Hometown Ambassador) will be on sale.

<Program (tentative)>

15:30-16:40 Stage Event Part 1
・Kurume Kasuri Fashion Show, an Important Intangible Cultural Property of Japan Featuring Kasuri Indigo Idol Aikuru
・Special Live (1): "Kurume Live Challenge 2022" Best Performer Massu-shi
・Special Live (2): Fighting Musicians: Urata Brothers

16:45-18:00 Stage Event Part 2
・Song & Dance Stage Performed by Kyushu Otani Junior College Musical Team
・How to play with AR (Augmented Reality) Featuring: Kudo Laboratory, Kurume Institute of Technology
・Choir Concert Performed by: Kurume Children's Choir

18:10-18:35 Lighting ceremony (lighting on at 18:30)

18:40-19:00 Grand lottery (Registration required by 18:00)

Also worth enjoying! "Museum Christmas 2023" illuminations at Ishibashi Cultural Center

Ishibashi Cultural Center, located about 15 minutes by Nishitetsu Bus from JR Kurume Station or 5 minutes from Nishitetsu Kurume Station, and immediately after getting off at the "Bunka Center-mae" bus stop, will also be illuminated from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. only on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from December 15th (Friday) to 24th (Sunday), 2023 (admission is free).

The garden, where you can stroll around while admiring the colorful flowers, is decorated with beautiful illuminations.

Image: Kurume City PR Office

In addition, there are plans for programs such as candle making and concerts during the day.

You'll definitely want to stop by along with "Hotomeki Fantasy"!

Recommended for stopping by before or after an event! Kurume's new gourmet spot

Opening in September 2023! Kurume's first pretzel specialty store "Backerei & Delikatessen GOTZEL"

This pretzel specialty shop is located in Toricho, a 9-minute walk from Nishitetsu Kurume Station.

You can purchase German-originated baked pastry "pretzels" and European-style deli items. *Takeout only

Image: Kurume City PR Office

<Store Information>
■Backerei & Delikatessen GOTZEL
Address: 1F Kaida Building, 109-2 Torimachi, Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture
Business hours: 8:00-until sold out
Closed: Mondays, 2nd and 4th Tuesdays

Opening in June 2023! "Crepe de Happiness" is a specialty store serving high-end crepes with generous portions.

This high-end crepe specialty shop is located in Mutsukadocho, a 13-minute walk from Nishitetsu Kurume Station.

The menu has a rich lineup of over 40 items, from sweets to savory dishes. You can enjoy carefully rolled crepes made with a special dough that uses a generous amount of eggs, lightly sweetened fresh cream, and fresh strawberries. *Takeout only

Image: Kurume City PR Office

<Store Information>
■Crepe de Happiness
Address: 10-61 Mutsukadocho, Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture
Business hours: 11:30 (11:00 on weekends and holidays) - 18:00
Closed: Irregular

Opening in 2022! A perfect place to end your night of drinking: "Share CAFE_KURUME"

Located in Miimachi, a two-minute walk from Kurume Daigakumae Station on the JR Kyudai Main Line, this cafe is open until 1:30am.

You can enjoy fried bread with a nostalgic taste, fried bread ice cream with the addictive texture of freshly fried bread and cold ice cream, parfaits, etc. Until December, fried bread ice cream with purple sweet potato bean paste is available for a limited time!

Image: Kurume City PR Office

<Store Information>
■ Share Cafe_KURUME
Address: 1F Asatsuma Building, 1859 Miimachi, Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture
Business hours: Monday to Friday 13:00 to 1:30 the next day, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays 10:00 to 1:30 the next day
Closed: Irregular

Please enjoy the spectacular views of Kurume City that are only available at this time of year ♡ (Text/ARNE Editorial Department)
*This article contains information current at the time of publication.

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