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- Odate
- Events and Festivals
Odate Daimonji Festival
The Daimonji Festival lasts all day with both daytime and evening events. Yukata-clad citizens, schools bands, and dance teams parade down Hachiko-dori (main street) during the afternoon. After sunset, a fireworks show is held on the banks of the Nagaki River in the center of town. At the same time, Japans largest daimonji (a series of fires arranged on a mountain form a Japanese character) is lit. This year paper lanters will be released down the Nagaki river to help guide the spirits of ancestor back to the afterlife. Many performances, food stalls, and games are held at the Nagaki Riverside park for visitors to enjoy while watching the show.
- Kosaka
- Events and Festivals
Kosaka Tanabata Festival
Kosaka was once home to a productive mine which brought in workers from all around the area. The Kosaka Tanabata Festival began in the late Meiji era with workers from neighboring Aomori recreating their famous Nebuta Festival floats. Originally the floats featured characters from local folklore and religion, but now they are decorated with a wide rage of motifs including popular cartoon characters. The highlight of the festival is on the evening of the second day when all of the neighborhoods floats gather in the center of town.
- Kamikoani
- Events and Festivals
Kamikoani Project
Kamikoani Village plays host to a wide range of artists, musicians, and performers during this one of a kind arts festival. Exhibitions are open around the village in former schools, small mountain hamlets, and other interesting venues. Modern artists from the Akita University of Art and all around Japan come to exhibit their works. Every year the installations change, so there is always something new to see!
- Kosaka
- Events and Festivals
Lake Towada Summer Festival
This annual event rigns in the start of the summer tourist season. There are boat races, swan boat rentals, and many other activites during the day. Approxiamtely 2,00 fireworks light up the night sky and color the lake waters below. Highlights include underwater fireworks and large star-mine mortars. A cruise boat leaves from the harbor for those looking for breathtaking views from the lake.
- Kitaakita
- Events and Festivals
Tsuzureko Shrine Festival
The Tsuzureko Shrine Festival dates back over 750 years ago to 1262. At that time, the upper and lower sections of the town began to compete to see who could build the biggest drum. The competition reached an apex in 1989 when one a drum 3.71 meters in diameter was officially recognized by the Guiness Book of World Records as the world’s largest drum. However, now an even larger drum 3.8 meters in diameter has been built. The festival itself serves three purposes; to pray for rain, to drive away crop-eating insects, and to pray for an abundant harvest. Groups from both sides of town ride their drums up and down the streets in the hopes that their beating will reverberate up to heaven while vilalgers perform lion dances below.
- Kitaakita
- Events and Festivals
Kitaakita Fireworks Show
Every year in early July the Yoneshiro Riverside Park plays host to Akita’s earliest fireworks show of the season. Over 3,000 mortars light up the sky and create beutiful refelctions in the gently flowing river below.
- Odate
- Events and Festivals
Tashiro Bamboo Festival
Tashiro is famous for delicious bamboo shoots that come out in the spring called takenoko. Every year the area holds a festival in celebration of the takenoko harvest with food, games, and performances. Games include a takenoko peeling contest (who can peel the fastest) and the most popular takenoko eating contest. Teams of two squeeze into one t-shirt and compete to be the fastet takenoko soup eaters. There are many other events open to all visitors. Raw takenoko, boiled takenoko, and takenoko soup with local pork are sold during the festival.
- Kosaka
- Events and Festivals
Acacia Festival
The streets are filled with the sweet aroma of flowers with the Acacia trees bloom in early June. Kosaka celebrates the blossoming with the annual Acacia Festival. Festival events include: historic walking tour stamp rally stage performances “Two-Person Katsu Ramen Eating Competition” Yumenosuke Theater Troupe show sightseeing railbikes
- Odate
- Events and Festivals
Odate Rose Festival: Spring Season
Be charmed by the wide varitey of roses on display at the Ishida Rose Garden. Rose saplings, souvenirs, and snacks like rose mochi and rose ice cream are available for purchase. During the evening, the garden is romantically illuminated and offers a whole new experience from a day time visit.
- Kitaakita
- Events and Festivals
Kitaakita Cherry Blossom Festival
Kitaakita Central Park has been named as one of the best places to view cherry blossoming in Akita Prefecture. Approximately 800 yoshino cherry trees line the lakeshore a walking path around allows guests to enjoy all the views. In the evenings from 17:00 to 22:00 the park is illuminated for guests to enjoy the scenery in to the evening.