Kamikōani Village Industry and Culture Festival
The “Kami-Koani Village Industry and Culture Festival” began in Reiwa 6 as a merger of the “Industry Festival” and “Lifelong Learning Week,” serving as a festival that simultaneously promotes the village’s industries and showcases the achievements of its cultural and educational initiatives.
The venue features a wide array of agricultural products, local specialties, woodwork, and food items—all painstakingly crafted in Kami-Koani Village—allowing visitors to fully experience the region’s charm.
In addition to the sale of local specialties and agricultural products, the venue hosts a variety of events that appeal to everyone from children to adults, including woodworking workshops, special vehicle exhibitions, a health and wellness fair, and a gathering of food trucks.
A particular highlight is the “nameko mushroom soup tasting,” where you can enjoy the flavors of autumn in Kami-Koani Village.
A limited number of 300 servings will be served each day. *Available while supplies last.
Why not visit Kami-Koani Village this fall and enjoy the industries, culture, and rich culinary delights nurtured by the local community?
Authentic Odate Kiritampo Festival
It’s that time of year again—the season for new rice and delicious kiritanpo.
Kiritanpo has been passed down through generations in households as a “taste of home” and a “special-occasion dish,” and even today, it’s served as a “hospitality dish” at weddings, funerals, and other events, regardless of the season.
In addition to the popular “Kiritanpo Grand Prix” and miso-glazed kiritanpo-making workshops, there will be a wide variety of stage events and hands-on activities.
Why not come to the Nipro Hachiko Dome and experience all the charms of the region?
[Access]
In addition to paid parking lots near the venue, a free shuttle bus runs between the area around Odate Station and the Aeon Super Center Odate store.
Kosaka Railway Festival
Every year on October 14—Railway Day—the “Kosaka Railway Festival” is held at the Kosaka Railway Rail Park.
The event features a variety of fun activities, including demonstrations of snowplow cars in action, freight car formations on display, photo sessions, and exhibits of rolling stock inside the locomotive shed.
Don’t miss the limited-edition gourmet food served in railway-themed pots or the commemorative pin badges!
This event is fun for both children who love trains and adults alike, so please come and enjoy it with your whole family.
Kosaka Railway Festival 2025 Flyer (Click or Tap)
Kamikoani Project
An arts festival held annually from summer through fall, taking place throughout the village of Kami-Koani. Featuring a variety of exhibitions and events centered on three pillars—contemporary art, music, and traditional performing arts—the festival showcases the charm of the satoyama landscape.Artworks created by contemporary artists based both within and outside the prefecture, as well as graduates of Akita Prefectural University of Art, who drew inspiration from Kamikoani Village, are displayed at venues throughout the village. Workshops and music events are also held.
Launched in 2012 under the name “KAMIKOANI Project Akita” as an offshoot of the “Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale” held in Niigata Prefecture, the festival saw local residents take the lead in forming a new organizing committee in 2016, renaming it to its current title, “Kamikoani Project.”Since then, the festival has been held annually while expanding the number of venues, and the number of repeat visitors from outside the prefecture is growing.
With many participatory events such as workshops, this is an art festival unique to the satoyama landscape where you can engage with the local community through art. Once you participate, you’re sure to discover the hidden charms of Kamikoani. Please feel free to stop by.
2025 Event Information (Click or Tap)
Kickoff Music Festival Flyer (Click or Tap)
Closing Event: “Traditional Performing Arts Performance and Symposium” (Click or Tap)
September 21 (Sun) Kickoff Music Festival
Venue: Koanity
72-2 Mukogawara, Kamikoani Village, Kitaakita District, Akita Prefecture
Admission: 1,000 yen (Free for high school students and younger)
Reservations: Not required
October 5 (Sun) – 26(Sun) *Closed Wednesdays* Exhibition
Venue: Former Kamikoani Nursery School
210 Mukogawara, Ozawada, Kamikoani Village, Kitaakita District, Akita Prefecture
Approximately three artists will conduct artist-in-residence programs and hold exhibitions.
A weekend café is also planned.
November 9 (Sun): Traditional Performing Arts Performance and Symposium
Venue: Health Promotion Training Center
118 Mukogawara, Ozawada, Kamikoani Village, Kitaakita District, Akita Prefecture
In addition to a joint performance featuring Kamikoani Village’s “Ozawada Koma Odori” and Kitakita City’s “Fukuda Shishimai” and “Neko Bangaku,” a symposium themed “Connecting and Being Connected Festival” will be held.
Akita Dog Preservation Society: Akita Prefecture Hokushibu Exhibition
This exhibition, organized by the Akita Prefecture Northern Branch of the Public Interest Incorporated Association Akita Dog Preservation Society, is held every year on November 3 (a national holiday) at the multipurpose plaza of “Akita Inu no Sato,” a tourism and community center located in front of Odate Station. It is held with the aim of preserving the Akita dog—designated as a National Natural Monument—in its original form and promoting the breed.Individual evaluations are held in the morning, followed by comprehensive evaluations in the afternoon, during which judges meticulously assess the dogs’ stance, facial features, ear position, and running form. Awards are presented to Akita Inu deemed to be outstanding. By ranking the dogs, owners are encouraged to strive for better breeding practices through healthy competition.
Branches of the Akita Dog Preservation Society are located throughout Japan and abroad. In addition to the annual Headquarters Exhibition, each branch holds its own exhibitions. Among these, the exhibition hosted by the Northern Prefecture Branch—based in Odate City, the birthplace of the Akita dog—attracts significant attention, drawing many visitors who come to see the majestic Akita dogs on display.
While there are no designated petting sessions, with the owner’s permission, you may be able to interact with the Akita Inus waiting in the holding area. Breeders who raise many Akita Inus sometimes bring their adorable puppies along as well.
The venue, Akita Inu no Sato, features an Akita Inu exhibition room where you can view the dogs through glass, a souvenir corner selling Akita Inu merchandise, and a tourist information center. Be sure to combine your visit with sightseeing in Odate and come see the beautiful Akita Inu in person.
Market Days in Akita
Some of them have a history dating back more than 400 years.
You’ll find a wide variety of products on display, including fresh fruit, seafood, wild mountain vegetables, and mochi.
There are delicious sweets, too!
You can experience the culture and way of life in Kitaakita.
Takanosu Taiko Festival, Kitaakita City
The Takanosu district is the home of the “Tsuzuri-ko Odaiko,” the world’s largest taiko drum.
The historic Tsuzuri-ko Odaiko (Uemachi and Shimomachi), said to have been in existence for 750 years since the Kamakura period, will feature two drums from each location—making this the only day you can see all four drums performing together.
Local taiko drumming and dance groups will take the stage one after another to proudly showcase their magnificent sounds and dances. Please enjoy this feast of sound and dance.
Related Event: Tsuzuri Shrine Annual Grand Festival
Related Facility: Great Taiko Museum
Kitaakita City Jomon Festival
This annual event is held at the “Ise-Dotaiji Jomon Museum,” a visitor center designed to spark interest in the Ise-Dotaiji Site—a World Cultural Heritage site—and Jomon culture.
Numerous activity stations are set up where visitors can experience the daily life and culture of the Jomon people—including making pottery and clay figurines, crafting magatama (curved jade beads), and trying their hand at kolamushi weaving—offering fun for everyone from children to seniors. In addition, a special experience is offered where visitors can enter the circular stone circle—which is normally off-limits—and view it from the inside.
Jomon-style dishes, such as bear hot pot, are served in limited quantities at the venue and are so popular that long lines form every year.
In addition, at a booth run by the local Seitaka Elementary School, children sell Jomon-themed goods they’ve made and host interactive activities like games and quizzes. This event also serves as a valuable experiential learning opportunity for the children of Kita-Akita.Another highlight is an exhibition of Jomon pottery created by junior volunteer guides.
In addition, food trucks, merchandise stands, photo exhibits, dance concerts, and various other stalls and stage events will liven up the venue.
Since this is an event where anyone can enjoy getting a close-up feel for Jomon culture, please be sure to bring your family and stop by.
● Ise-dōdai Photo Rally
● Jōmon Cuisine: Bear Stew (Limited to 100 servings)
● Guided Tour! Highlights of the Ise-dōdai Ruins with a Guide
● Concert
● Jomon Experience Open-Air Workshop
・Pottery and clay figurine making・Handmade Jomon pottery exhibition・Magatama making
・Karamushi weaving experience・Jomon-themed photo op・Jomon stamps
Moriyoshi Shikimi Lake Festival
The Moriyoshi Dam Lake is affectionately known to locals as “Shikibi Lake” for the beautiful scenery it offers throughout the four seasons.
Held every year at the end of summer at Shikibi Lakeside Park—located on the lakeshore and offering a panoramic view of the dam lake—is the “Shikibi Lake Festival.”
The festival features plenty of activities to fully enjoy Shikibi Lake, including an event where you can explore 60 meters underground inside the dam, climbing the dam embankment, and cruise experiences where you can take in the views from the lake in Canadian canoes made of Akita cedar or on stand-up paddleboards (SUPs).
Food stalls and an open-air market featuring fresh local vegetables and sundries will also be set up. Additionally, a band contest has been held since 2022. Numerous amateur bands from both within and outside the city participate, competing as their music echoes across the majestic lake.
Set against the lush, green summer shores of Shikibi Lake, this is an event where both adults and children can relax and have fun.
Odate Shinmei Shrine Annual Festival
This is Odate City’s most famous festival, held annually over two days: September 10 (Pre-Festival) and September 11 (Main Festival).Magnificent, ornate ceremonial floats weighing over one metric ton and children’s mikoshi (portable shrines) parade through the city, while the sounds of “Odate Bayashi” music echoing throughout the streets get the blood of Odate locals pumping like never before.In addition, the Omachi Shopping Street—which becomes a pedestrian-only zone—is lined with rows of food stalls and bustles with crowds. Highlights include the “Joint Float Procession” and “Crossing of Tanonosaka” during the Eve Festival, as well as the “Splendid Festival Music”“Odate Bayashi Joint Performance at the Station,” and “Festival Celebration Water” are among the events held during the main festival, making this a festival packed with highlights.
Odate Shinmei Shrine has long served as the guardian deity of Odate, protecting this land.The Odate Shinmei Shrine Annual Grand Festival, a ritual that has been held for over 400 years, features ceremonies praying for bountiful harvests, prosperous business, and household safety, making it an indispensable event for the people of Odate City.Please come and experience the traditional culture of Odate City and the enthusiasm of its citizens.
2026 Odate Shinmei Shrine Annual Festival Flyer (PDF)
2026 Odate Shinmei Shrine Annual Festival Schedule (PDF)
Eki-one.
Set against the backdrop of Odate Station—the gateway to Odate—the “Eki-one.” event, packed with all the region’s charm, is coming soon!
“Eki-one.” is an event held with the goal of creating a lively atmosphere in front of Odate Station and energizing the local community. In addition to booths where visitors can enjoy local cuisine and shopping, various activities—including stage performances—are planned to entertain everyone from children to adults.
The name “Eki-one.” embodies the “wan!” from “Hachiko”—a figure associated with Odate City—the “1 (wan)” from Onari-cho 1-chome, the “ichi (wan)” from the morning market, and the idea that everyone in the community comes together as “one (wan).”
Why not savor local delicacies, enjoy the stage performances, and discover the charms of Odate as you wander around the venue?
If you’re visiting Odate, head to “Eki-one.” right in front of the station!
[Eki-one. Gourmet & Market] 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Featuring the event’s namesake “Eki-one Yakisoba” and a full lineup of delicious local specialties from across the prefecture!
Please see the flyer for details.
[Event Schedule]
9:40 AM: Group Music Performance [Issho-ko & Seito-ko]
9:50 AM Opening Ceremony
10:00 AM Odate Municipal Ariura Elementary School “Kagayaki” LIVE Performance
10:30 AM Odate Hayashi Dance Performance [Ichisei-kō & Seihō-kō]
11:00 AM Kouraiser Show
11:30 a.m. 【Onka】 Namahage Taiko Performance
1:00 p.m. 【Odate Municipal Higashi Junior High School】 Wind Ensemble Performance
1:30 p.m. Odate Bayashi Dance Performance [Ichisei-kō and Seihō-kō]
2:00 PM Kourizer Show
2:30 PM [Onka] Namahage Taiko Performance
3:00 PM Grand Raffle (Open to those with raffle tickets)
