KINKI CONNECT FESTIVAL

About this event

For two days on Saturday, September 12, and Sunday, September 13, 2026, the "KINKI CONNECT FESTIVAL" will be held in the heart of Wakayama City, with the Wakayama Castle area serving as the main venue. This event is organized by the Junior Chamber International Japan Kinki District Council, and admission is free. At the venue, there are plenty of hands-on activities that parents and children can enjoy together, starting with the "Umaimon Area" where gourmet food stalls from across the Kinki region gather. At Wakayama Castle's Sunanomaru Square, there will be a Kids Play Area featuring inflatable playground equipment and festival stalls, an Exciting Discovery Area where you can experience craftsmanship alongside local artisans, and a Disaster Prevention Area where you can take on disaster preparedness missions navigating a light-restricted course relying on sound and touch. On the Nishinomaru Square stage, live performances by local junior high school brass bands and kid dancers, Kishu Yosakoi dance performances, and an ending live concert by singer-songwriter Bigfumi are scheduled. In addition, from 16:10, "Tsuremote Mochi-maki" (rice cake toss) will be held for stamp rally participants. Furthermore, at the Wakayama Prefectural Cultural Hall, a forum featuring speakers including former Japan figure skating representative Narumi Takahashi and sociologist Noritoshi Furuichi will take place, providing opportunities for young people to think and act as stakeholders in society. In front of Wakayama City Hall, 46 booths by Junior Chambers (LOM) from all over Kinki will appear, allowing visitors to enjoy learning about the charms of various parts of Kinki through local specialty goods, gourmet food, and feature-rich exhibits and experiences.

Venue

Sunanomaru Square

Ichibancho, Wakayama, Wakayama 640-8146