This Festival combines floats, dancers and other performers as well as traditional foods and music from the three northern-most prefectures of Honshu. Aomori, Iwate and Akita prefectures meet just south of the lake. This is a good opportunity to see some aspects of Japanese celebrations that are not normally on display in the local Misawa area.

One of the most interesting performances comes from Akita city on the Sea of Japan side of the island. The Kanto Lantern demonstraton involves dozens of Japanese lanterns which are hung on horizontal poles. These horizontal poles are attached to one vertical pole that is about 35 feet long. The lanterns are lit and one person lifts the entire contraption and performs a series of maneuvers that require strength and balance. The lanterns are emblazoned with a crest of the city that the performers come from.

Other attractions are huge taiko drums, different dance groups performing a variety of routines and many different floats.

The opening ceremony takes place at 2pm on Saturday. There is an afternoon parade beginning at 3:30pm and an evening parade at 6:50pm on both day. The two parades each day have different particants so you should plan to see both of them to experience the entire show. The two sessions also follow a slightly different route.

How to get there