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Nishiki Village - Paper Balloon Festival
Said to have its roots in scientist Hiraga Gennai's (1728 - 1779)
visit to the area. Hiraga showed local residents how to use the
principle of hot air rising to float balloons with torches. This
festival has more than a century of history, and is a fantastic
sight to behold.
Date: Feb 10 (Thu)
Access: 7-8 mins on foot from Kamihinokinai Sta.
Information: Nishiki Village Industry Division Commerce and Tourism
Team 0187-47-2112
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Kakunodate Town - Hiburi Kamakura Festival
In this dramatic festival held in mid-February, a sacred flame
is swung on a long rope, creating a spectacular ring of fire which
is said to awaken the slumbering winter fields and provide safety,
a good harvest, and protection from disasters and illness for
the entire year.
Dates: Feb 14 (Mon)
Access: 15 mins from Kakunodate Sta.
Information: Kakunodate Tourism Assoc. 0187-54-2700
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Omagari City - Bonden River Crossing
The red, yellow, green, and purple of these sacred paper streamers
reflected against the snow and in the chilled waters as they cross
the Omonogawa River by boat is a spectacle that in Akita can only
be seen here.
Date: Feb 17 (Thu)
Access: 5 mins by car from Omagari Sta.
Information: Omagari Division of Industry, Commerce, and Tourism
0187-63-1111
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Tazawako Town - Tazawako Kogen Snow Festival
A carnival of winter fun surrounded by fabulous snow sculptures,
Tazawako Kogen Snow Festival's highlights include winter fireworks
and a torch-bearing ski line to light up the night.
Dates: Feb 26 (Sat) - 27 (Sun)
Access: 25 mins by bus from Tazawako Sta.
Information: Tourism Information Center 0187-43-2111
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Kazuno City - Dainichido Bugaku
This traditional dance is thought to have been brought here in the mid-eighth
century. The players assemble at midnight of January 2 to perform 11
different dances.
Date: Jan 2 (Sun)
Location: Ohirumemuchi Shrine
Access: 10 mins on foot from Hachimantai Sta.
Information: Kazuno Tourism Assoc. 0186-30-0248
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Akita City - Miyoshi Bonden Festival
Groups of local young people carrying poles decorated with sacred streamers
race for shrines in a festival to ensure a good harvest and household
safety for their own community. Fierce competition and frequent conflict
between groups to ensure victory has earned this event the nickname,
Fighting Bonden.
Date: Jan 17 (Mon)
Location: Taiheizan Miyoshi Shrine
Access: 20 mins by car from Akita Sta.
Information: Taiheizan Miyoshi Shrine 018-834-3443
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Hinai Town - Hinai Chicken Market
From the rather serious memorial given to the chicken that grace our
tables to traditional performing arts to the rather comical chicken calling
contest and chicken derby, this market is much more than just tasty chicken
for sale. But of course there is plenty of tasty chicken, and other Akita
local cuisine, too.
Dates: Jan 22 (Sat), 23 (Sun)
Access: 25 mins by car from Tohoku Expwy Towada IC
Information: Hinai Planning, Commerce, and Industry Division 0186-55-1112
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Kosaka Town - Towadako Fuyu Monogatari Winter
Story Festival
This winter fantasy of fireworks and 6000 snow lanterns is a pageant
in sound and light. Warm up with great local cuisine after a ride on
the Lake Towada cruise boat.
Dates: Fab 4 (Fri) - Fab 27 (Mon)
Location: Around Lake Towada
Access: 50 mins by car from Tohoku Expwy Kosaka IC
Information: Towadako Fuyu Monogatari Exec. Cmte. 0176-75-2425
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Amekko Candy Market (Odate City)
150 candy carts line Odate’s central avenue, and the whole area
is abuzz with people at this four-hundred-year-old event, which began
from the belief that if you eat candy on this day you will be free from
colds. It is said that the deity of Mt. Tashirodake comes to buy candy
on this day, too. Don’t miss the parade with the great silver-bearded
god at the fore…
Dates: Feb 12 (Sat) - 13 (Sun)
Location: Omachi, Odate
Access: 10 mins by car from Odate Sta.
Information: Odate Tourism Information Ctr. 0186-42-4360
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Yokote Snow Huts (Yokote City)
Sweet, fermented amazake is given to passersby, and glutinous mochi rice
broiled over a hibachi inside snow huts is served piping hot in a festival
dedicated to the water deity. Dark, snowy nights take on a fantastically
warm glow.
Dates: Feb 15 (Tue) - 16 (Wed)
Location: Futabacho and other locations, Yokote
Access: 10 mins by car from Yokote IC or 10 mins on foot from Yokote
Sta.
Information: Yokote Commerce and Tourism Division, Yokote Tourism Assoc.
0182-32-2111
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Namahage Seto Festival (Oga City)
The Namahage are demonic figures who visit Oga Peninsula homes at the
New Year to frighten children into good behavior. Shinzan Shrine’s
mid-February festival presents Oga Peninsula’s famous Namahage
for tourists. Sticky mochi rice is broiled over an open flame on the
shrine grounds.
Dates: Feb 11 (Fri), 12 (Sat), 13 (Sun)
Location: Shinzan Shrine, Oga City
Access: 15 mins on foot from Oga Sta. or 40 mins by bus from Hadachi
Sta.
Information: Oga Division of Tourism, Commerce, and Industry 0185-23-2111
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Ani Town - Ice Forests of Ani
Take the gondola to the peak of Moriyoshi-Ani Ski Area. From here it’s
only a five-minute walk to the ice forests of Ani. Mt. Moriyoshiyama
is famous for its summers of flowered beauty, but winter is not to be
missed either. Silvery-white plains of snow broken only by gnarly forests
of ice await you.
Dates: Jan 15 (Sat) - Mar 6 (Sun)
Location: Moriyoshi-Ani Ski Area
Access: 20 mins from Akita Inland Line Ani Sta; 100 mins by car from
Tohoku Expwy Towada IC
Information: Moriyoshi-Ani Ski Area 0186-82-3311
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Yokote City - Akita Winter Festival
This great festival brings together materials from Lunar New Year events
and winter festivals from all over Akita in one place. Exhibitions include
festival items, snow sculptures, panels, and video footage. PR events
are also held.
Dates: Jan 29 (Sat) - Feb 27 (Sun)
Location: Akita Furusato Village
Access: 15 mins by shuttle bus from Yokote Sta; 2 mins by car from Akita
Expwy Yokote IC
Information: Akita Furusato Village 0182-33-8800
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