Activities Odate Shining Street 2025-2026 Dec 6th - Jan 12th Odate Shining Street is an avenue of trees illuminated until early morning in Akita Prefecture. Some 82 trees over a 800 meter distance..
Activities Kasedori Festival 2026 Wednesday - Feb 11th Kasedori Festival, or “Strawbird Festival”, is a unique yet bizarre Japanese event. Performers gather at Kaminoyama Castle dre..
Culture Kokusekiji Sominsai in Oshuu 2026 Mid Feb A winter water purification ceremony, participants strip down to only a loin cloth. Next they face several challenges to show bravery..
Culture The Hanamaki Festival 2026 Mid Sep The Hanamaki festival is held on the second Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of September each year. It features drum and shamisen playing..
Culture Kakunodate Cherry Blossom Festival 2026 Mid Apr - Early May The sakura or cherry blossom festival celebrates the arrival of spring and the cherry blossoms in the Samurai town of Kakunodate...
Activities Kitakami River Rubber Boat Race 2026 Early Jul An annual rubber race down the Kitakami River in Morioka. You can enter as a competitor or simply as a slow cruise down the river..
Culture Yuzawa Inukko Dog Festival 2026 Early Feb The Inukko dog festival is held on the second weekend in February in Yuzawa City in Akita
Culture Paper Balloon Festival in Semboku 2026 Tuesday - Feb 10th The Paper Balloon festival is a very colourful festival in the middle of the Akita winter