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Lake Towadako Kosui Festival (Towada City)
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: 2 hrs 30 mins by car from Aomori Sta.
Information: Lake Towadako Kosui Festival Exec. Cmte. 0176-75-2425
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Osorezan Grand Festival (Mutsu City)
Osorezan ranks alongside Wakayama's Mt. Koya and Shiga's Mt.
Hiei as one of Japan's most sacred spots. This great summer festival
is marked by by mediums called itako channeling the departed
for visitors from around Japan.
Dates: Late Jul
Access: 43 mins by Shimokita Kotsu bus from Shimokita Sta.
Information: Osorezan Office 0175-22-3825
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Hirosaki Neputa Festival (Hirosaki City)
Brilliantly colored warrior- and fan-shaped floats decorated
with heroic and dramatic scenes snake through the city streets
to a lively chant.
Dates: Early Aug
Access: Detrain at Hirosaki Sta.
Information: HIROSAKI MUNICIPAL TOURIST CENTER 0172-37-5501
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Hachinohe Sansha Taisai Festival (Hachinohe
City)
This three shrine festival has a history of more than 280 years.
The procession of more than 20 floats with subjects from kabuki
and legend is not to be missed.
Dates: Late Jul – Early Aug
Access: 5 mins on foot from Hon-Hachinohe Sta.
Information: Hachinohe Tourism Assoc. 0178-41-1661
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Goshogawara Tachineputa Festival (Goshogawara
City)
The 22-m, 16-ton floats of this festival tower high enough to
have been visible from neighboring towns and villages in the
past. And they continue to offer quite a spectacle as they make their way
through the city.
Dates: Early Aug
Access: 10 mins on foot from Goshogawara Sta.
Information: Goshogawara Tourism Assoc. 0173-38-1515
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Misawa Festival (Misawa City)
The three shrines of Yakushi, Fudo, and Unryu
participate in this summer festival. On the eve, a festival
music contest is held, and a
number of floats make a round trip tour of the city, accompanied
by music performed by children. Beginning the following day,
a costume parade and
an international summer festival with participation by local
U.S. expats to deepen international relations highlight the
agenda.
Dates: Late Aug
Locations: Misawa City (Festival)
Access: 10 mins by bus from Misawa Sta.
Information: Misawa Chamber of Commerce 0176-53-2175
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Kuroishi Neputa Festival (Kuroishi City)
With the most floats in all of Aomori, Kuroishi's Neputa features
both fan-shaped and human-shaped floats. Both styles are dramatically,
gorgeously ornamented, making these summer nights memorable.
Dates: Late Jul - Early Aug
Location: Kuroishi City
Access: Take Konan Tetsudo from JR's Hirosaki Sta. to Kuroishi
Sta.
Information: Kuroishi Jr. Chamber of Commerce 0172-52-3369
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Aomori Nebuta Festival (Aomori City)
In what may well be Japan's most well known fire-prevention festival,
tens of thousands make their chanting, dancing rounds through
the streets of Aomori, accompanying the magnificent floats for
which Nebuta is most famous. A fireworks display and marine Nebuta
parade are held on the final day.
Dates: Early Aug
Location: Downtown Aomori
Access: 10 mins on foot from Aomori Sta.
Information: Aomori Tourism and Convention Association 017-723-7211
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Tosa no Sunayama Festival (Goshogawara City)
This festival held in Shiura's Jusan area is highlighted by its
Bon Odori, heir to a long tradition of Buddhist religious dances.
In addition to other dances, there is also a chance to help pray
for good catches with a boat ride around the harbor.
Dates: Mid Aug
Location: Jusan, Shiura
Location: 1 hr by car from Goshogawara Sta.
Information: Goshogawara Tourism Assoc. 0173-38-1515
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Minmaya Yoshitsune Festival (Sotogahama Town)
Legends surrounding Minamoto no Yoshitsune, one of Japan's most
famous folk heroes, relate that he fled through Minmaya northward
to Hokkaido, escaping the wrath of his vengeful brother Yoritomo,
the eventual first shogun of Japan. This two-day festival recreates
the romance of Japan's past with events including a parade of
Yoshitsune and his band of followers.
Tentative Dates: Mid Aug
Location: Yoshitsune beach park
Access: 10mins by bus from Minmaya Sta.
Information: Minmaya Tourism Assoc. 0174-37-2002
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Kuroishi Yosare - One of Japanfs 3 Great
Dances (Kuroishi City)
Yosare is one of the Tsugaru Peninsula's best-known folk songs.
In this festival, three thousand dancers perform most famous summer
dance, Bon Odori, to this fabulous melody, parading through streets
that maintain a flavor of medieval Japan.
Dates: Mid Aug
Location: Kuroishi City
Access: Take Konan Tetsudo from JR's Hirosaki Sta. to Kuroishi
Sta.
Information: Kuroishi Tourism Assoc. 0172-52-3488
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Tanabu Festival (Mutsu City)
One of the largest festivals held on the Shimokita Peninsula is
highlighted by a parade of graceful floats through the city, accompanied
by the musicians on board.
Dates: Mid Aug
Location: Tanabu, Mutsu
Access: 10 mins by bus from Tanabe Sta.
Information: Mutsu Division of Industry, Commerce, and Tourism
0175-22-1111
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Fukaura Sea Festival - The Golden Sea of Japan
(Fukaura Town)
Boat races and balancing acts over the sea are some of the highlights
of the Sea Festival's dynamic events. If that is not enough to
pique your interest, how about prize money?
Date: Mid Aug
Location: Fukaura Sunset Park
Access: 10 mins on foot from Fukaura Sta.
Information: Fukaura Tourism Assoc. 0173-74-3320
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