akippa Selected to Operate Official Parking for the 79th Hita Kawabiraki Kankosai; Introducing Pre-booking for the First Time
akippa Inc. will operate official parking for the 79th Hita Kawabiraki Kankosai in Oita, Japan, on May 23-24, 2026. This marks the first time a pre-booking system will be used at this event to mitigate congestion and secure operational funds.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 1, 2026 at 21:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 1, 2026 at 16:47
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 21, 2026 at 20:25 (483h 37m after Collected)
akippa Inc. (CEO: Motoki Kanaya), the operator of the smart parking app 'akippa', has been selected to manage official parking for the '79th Hita Kawabiraki Kankosai,' held on May 23 (Sat) and 24 (Sun), 2026, in Hita City, Oita Prefecture. This will be the first time a pre-booking system through akippa is introduced for this event.
By making the parking 'paid and reservation-only,' the initiative aims to serve as a pilot project to suppress cruising for parking and traffic congestion on the day of the event, ensuring a safe and secure access environment for both visitors and local residents. Furthermore, the parking fees will help supplement increasing event operation costs due to rising prices, securing a stable financial source to pass the tradition to the next generation.
Reservations for the official parking are scheduled to start with citizen pre-sales on April 10 (Fri) and general sales on April 21 (Tue).
Special akippa website for the 79th Hita Kawabiraki Kankosai:
https://www.akippa.com/event/hita-kankousai
The Hita Kawabiraki Kankosai is a major event featuring about 10,000 fireworks illuminating the night sky over two days, along with various festivities such as the Hangiri Genpei battle and music parades across the city. While attracting many visitors every year, constructing a sustainable operation system and alleviating traffic congestion on surrounding roads have been persistent challenges.
By converting the official parking from 'free and first-come-first-served' to 'paid and pre-booked' through akippa, the access times will be distributed, leading to the suppression of congestion caused by cars waiting to enter lots on surrounding roads. Additionally, by eliminating driver anxiety over whether a spot will be available upon arrival, it reduces 'cruising for parking.'
By making the parking 'paid and reservation-only,' the initiative aims to serve as a pilot project to suppress cruising for parking and traffic congestion on the day of the event, ensuring a safe and secure access environment for both visitors and local residents. Furthermore, the parking fees will help supplement increasing event operation costs due to rising prices, securing a stable financial source to pass the tradition to the next generation.
Reservations for the official parking are scheduled to start with citizen pre-sales on April 10 (Fri) and general sales on April 21 (Tue).
Special akippa website for the 79th Hita Kawabiraki Kankosai:
https://www.akippa.com/event/hita-kankousai
The Hita Kawabiraki Kankosai is a major event featuring about 10,000 fireworks illuminating the night sky over two days, along with various festivities such as the Hangiri Genpei battle and music parades across the city. While attracting many visitors every year, constructing a sustainable operation system and alleviating traffic congestion on surrounding roads have been persistent challenges.
By converting the official parking from 'free and first-come-first-served' to 'paid and pre-booked' through akippa, the access times will be distributed, leading to the suppression of congestion caused by cars waiting to enter lots on surrounding roads. Additionally, by eliminating driver anxiety over whether a spot will be available upon arrival, it reduces 'cruising for parking.'