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Tsuzureko Shrine Festival (Taiko Drum Festival)
(Kitaakita City)
The thunderous booming of six giant taiko drums brings to mind
the origins of this festival as a rain-bringing ritual. The great
drums are registered in the Guinness Book as the world's largest.
Dates: Mid Jul
Access: 10 mins by car from Odate-Noshiro Airport
Information: Kitaakita Division of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism
0186-62-6639
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| Tsuchizaki Harbor Festival (Akita
City)
Tsuchizaki Harbor Festival is particularly known for its grand
floats and boisterous music. The floats, featuring giant warrior
figures on the front and scenes of parody on the rear, are a matter
of pride for the area's people. Neighborhoods compete in size
and craftsmanship, making this a fun and lively festival.
Dates: Late Jul
Access: 15 mins by car from Akita Sta.
Information: Festival Exec. Cmte. 018-845-2264
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Kanto Festival (Akita City)
This festival began more than 360 years ago to pray for a bountiful
harvest. As the hot summer sun sweeps low and the sky is dyed
a gentle red, those towering lantern poles from which the event gets its
name parade through
the city's main street.
Dates: Early Aug
Access: 10 mins on foot from Akita Sta.
Information: Festival Exec. Cmte. 018-866-2112
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Akita Summer Festival Omonogawa
River Fireworks Display (Akita City)
5000 fireworks blaze in the night sky over Akita, creating a pageant
of sound and light.
Date:Early Aug
Access: 20 mins by car from Akita Sta.
Information: Omonogawa River Fireworks Office 018-888-8080
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Odate Daimonji Festival (Odate City)
The graceful hand movements of Daimonji Odori's dancers bring
alive 2 km of Odate's streets, and the tumultuous excitement of
the bukkake mikoshi (at left) brings this festival to a fevered
pitch as water is sprayed violently over the young people carrying
the festival's portable shrines. At night, a traditional song
show and Shishi Odori dance are followed by the floating lanterns
on the Nakagigawa River. After a rousing drum performance, fireworks
adorn the sky as one of the largest flaming dai "big"
characters in all of Japan appears on the face of Mt. Ho'ozan.
Date: Mid Aug
Access: Near Odate Sta.
Information: Odate Tourism and Products Division 0186-49-3111
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Okuribon Festival (Yokote City)
Boats representing each of Yokote's districts battle for position
to enter the water in this celebration to mark the end of the
Obon Festival. The thickening blackness of the night sky is pierced
with the sparkle of fireworks in this exciting event.
Dates: Mid Aug
Access: 10 mins on foot from Yokote Sta.
Information: Yokote Tourism Assoc. 0182-33-7111
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Hanawa-bayashi (Kazuno City)
The Hanawa-bayashi is counted as one of the nation's three great
festival musics. Its elegant flutes and sonorous drums provide
the soundtrack for this unusual festival. Unusual because the highpoint is
the predawn parade
of its beautiful floats. Try staying up for the peak beginning
around 4:00 AM.
Dates: Mid Aug
Access: 5 mins by car from Tohoku Expwy Kazuno-Hachimantai IC
Information: Kazuno Division of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism
0186-30-0248
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Omagari Fireworks (Daisen City)
For over nine decades, Japan's elite pyrotechnicians have assembled
here to test there skills in this most marvelous of fireworks
events.
Dates: Late Aug
Access: 20 mins by car from Akita Expwy Omagari IC
Information: Daisen Division of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism
0187-63-1111
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Kemanai Bon Odori (Kazuno City)
Not only is Kemanai Bon Odori one of Akita's three largest-scale
Bon dances, it is also a nationally designated Important Intangible
Folk-Cultural Property. The dances include Dai no Saka, accompanied
only by drums, and Jinku Odori, accompanied only by song.
Dates: Late Aug
Access: 10 mins by bus from Towada-Minami Sta.
Information: Kazuno Division of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism
0186-30-0248
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Oga Sea of Japan Fireworks
(Oga City)
10,000 fireworks in the image of Oga light up the night for a midsummer
show of sound and light. Starts at 19:30
Dates: Mid Aug
Access: 5 mins on foot from Oga Sta
Information: Fireworks Cmte 0185-23-2111
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Lake Towadako Kosui Festival (Kosaka Town)
This high summer festival, held in the deep green and brilliant blue
of Lake Towadako, comes to a climax with a blazon of fireworks lighting
up the night sky. Enjoy the view from beautifully illuminated cruise
boats gliding over the lake.
Dates: Mid Jul
Location: Yasumiya (next to Lake Towadako)
Access: 40 mins by car from Tohoku Expwy Kosaka IC
Information: Lake Towadako Kosui Festival Exec. Cmte. 0176-75-2425
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