The 37th Ryujin Gorge Autumn Leaves Festival (第37回竜神峡紅葉まつり) will be held at Ryujin Suspension Bridge (竜神大吊橋) in Hitachiota City, Ibaraki Prefecture, from Sunday, November 1 to Monday, November 30, 2026. During the festival, visitors can enjoy an Instagram photo campaign, a stamp rally across the city, a local products market, and an autumn event corner with performances.
Event Overview
- Period: Sunday, November 1 to Monday, November 30, 2026, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
- Location: Ryujin Suspension Bridge (竜神大吊橋), 2133-6 Keganocho (天下野町), Hitachiota City, Ibaraki
- Bridge crossing fee:
- Adults (high school age and older): ¥320 (individual) / ¥290 (group)
- Children: ¥210 (individual) / ¥190 (group)
- Free crossing day: The bridge crossing fee is waived on Ibaraki Citizens' Day, Friday, November 13.
Autumn Ryujin Gorge Instagram Photo Campaign
Photos of Ryujin Gorge (竜神峡) in autumn, Ryujin Suspension Bridge, and the Ryujin Gorge Autumn Leaves Festival are being accepted. The executive committee will review the entries and choose the Grand Prix and other awards. Winning photos will be posted on the website and social media of the Hitachiota City Tourism and Products Association (常陸太田市観光物産協会), and winners will receive Hitachiota specialty products.
How to enter
- Follow the association's official Instagram account "hitachiotakanko", take a photo related to Ryujin Gorge in autumn or the festival, and post it with the hashtag #第37回竜神峡紅葉まつり (37th Ryujin Gorge Autumn Leaves Festival).
- Entry period: Sunday, November 1 to Monday, November 30, 2026
- Judging date: Mid-December 2026
- Winners will be announced by Instagram direct message and on the association's website and social media.
Prizes
- Grand Prix (1 winner): Hitachiota specialty products assortment worth ¥20,000
- Runner-up (2 winners): Hitachiota specialty products assortment worth ¥5,000
- Honorable mention (3 winners): Hitachiota specialty products assortment worth ¥3,000
Ryujin Gorge Maple Tour Stamp Rally
During the festival, visitors can use their own smartphones to collect QR codes placed at 25 locations in the city, including sightseeing spots, facilities, and restaurants. Visitors who collect 3, 5, 10, or 20 codes and submit an entry will be entered in a prize drawing.
- The stamp rally app "furari" must be downloaded.
- When visiting restaurants, bathing facilities, or facilities that charge an admission fee, the stamp can be collected after using the facility.
Stamp rally checkpoints
- Ryujin Carillon (竜神カリヨン) at Ryujin Suspension Bridge
- Ryujin Cafe (竜神カフェ)
- Ryucchan no Yu (竜っちゃん乃湯)
- 藤ひろ
- Horaikan (宝来館)
- 慈久庵
- 慈久庵 鯨荘「塩町館」
- Kanesan (かねさん)
- Tamakiya (玉喜屋)
- Nishiyama no Sato Togen (西山の里 桃源)
- Ota Onsen Yamabuki no Yu (太田温泉やまぶきの湯)
- Michi-no-Eki Hitachiota (道の駅ひたちおおた)
- Soba Kobo (そば工房)
- Kanasa no Yu (金砂の湯)
- かなさ笑楽校
- Kome Kobo (こめ工房)
- Michi-no-Eki Satomi (道の駅さとみ)
- Hitachiota Cheese Kobo (ひたちおおたチーズ工房)
- JA Hitachi Satomi Direct Sales Store (JA常陸 里美直売所)
- Nukumori no Yu (ぬく森の湯)
- Satomi Kakashi Matsuri (里美かかし祭)
- Kanehiro Yamazakura Direct Sales Store (カネヒロ 山桜直売所)
- Sobadokoro Satomi (そば処 里美)
- Yamadaya Ryokan (山田屋旅館)
- Nakanoya Ryokan (中野屋旅館)
How to enter
- Enter from the entry screen in the app.
- Entry deadline: Monday, November 30, 2026
- Drawing date: Mid-December 2026
- Winners will be announced when their prizes are shipped.
Prizes
- Platinum Prize (20 locations): Hitachiota specialty products worth ¥20,000, 1 winner
- Gold Prize (10 locations): Hitachiota specialty products worth ¥10,000, 2 winners
- Silver Prize (5 locations): Hitachiota specialty products worth ¥5,000, 10 winners
- Bronze Prize (3 locations): Hitachiota specialty products worth ¥3,000, 15 winners
2026 Ryujin Gorge Autumn Leaves Festival Local Products Market
A local products market will be held at Ryujin Suspension Bridge throughout the festival. It features sales of local specialty products and stalls such as kitchen cars, and is suitable for the whole family, from children to adults. Stalls may be called off depending on the weather.
- Period: Sunday, November 1 to Monday, November 30, 2026
- Hours: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- Location: Market space (east side of the parking lot) and the opposite bank (November 13 to 15 and November 21 to 23 only)
- Expanded days: The number of stalls will be increased in particular from Friday, November 13 to Sunday, November 15, and from Saturday, November 21 to Monday, November 23 (national holiday).
- Kitchen cars: Kitchen cars will be present only from Friday, November 13 to Sunday, November 15, and from Saturday, November 21 to Monday, November 23 (national holiday).
Ryujin Gorge Autumn Event Corner
| Date (November) | Time | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Sun, Nov 1 | 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM | Balloon art |
| Sun, Nov 1 to Mon, Nov 30 | - | Monkey show |
| Tue, Nov 3 (holiday) | 1) From 11:00 AM, 2) From 1:00 PM | Ota Daiichi High School Brass Band Club (太田一高吹奏楽部) |
| Sat, Nov 7 | 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM | Suifu Kodomoen (すいふこども園) (taiko drum performance) |
| Sat, Nov 7 and Sun, Nov 8 | 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM | Freestyle footballer Tatsuki |
| Sun, Nov 8 and Fri, Nov 13 | 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM | 藤良多 (live performance) |
| Fri, Nov 13 | 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM | Free caricature corner |
| Sat, Nov 14 and Sun, Nov 15 | - | Fun event |
| Sat, Nov 21 and Sun, Nov 22 | 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM | Freestyle footballer TOMMY |
| Mon, Nov 23 (holiday) | 1) From 11:30 AM, 2) From 2:00 PM | DAPPE BRASS (band performance) |
| Sat, Nov 28 to Mon, Nov 30 | 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM | Street performance by 羽舞 |
