This summer, the Japanese Summer Festival is about to begin again. Today, the editor introduces the Summer Festival in Tohoku, Japan. This event will be held in July. You can book your air tickets and accommodation in advance to avoid rising accommodation prices during the event.

Aomori Nebuta Festival

1. Source

The Aomori Nebuta Festival is said to be transformed from the Chinese Tanabata Festival and merged with local customs in the Tsugaru area , turned into lanterns made of paper, bamboo, and candles. Since candlelight was used in the lanterns in the past, it is also called the Fire Festival.

Nebuta lanterns used to be paraded in rural areas, but now they are hosted by companies or private groups, making it one of Japan's representative festivals.

There are different opinions on the origin of the Sandman Festival. The main saying is: Because the summer in Aomori Prefecture is hot, people are prone to fatigue and laziness. This festival is to keep everyone energetic in summer, drive away the sleep demons, put all their energy into work, and get a good harvest.

What is "Sandman"? It is actually a huge lantern float weighing 4 tons. The float is decorated with characters and ghosts from mythology, history or Japanese legends.

2. Customs

During the festival, there will be various large-scale Nebuta lanterns with more than 20 seats based on kabuki, history, and mythology participating in the parade. HANETO dancers in colorful costumes, as well as a piccolo and taiko drum accompaniment band, participated in the Nebuta Festival parade. In the evening, in conjunction with the fireworks display, a Sandman Lantern Parade is held on the sea.

3. Event time

August 2nd to August 7th, 2020

August 1st (18:00～21:00 on the eve of the festival) Festival eve, 19:00～20:40/Asamushi Onsen Fireworks Display

August 2 to August 3, 19:10～21:00 Children's Nebuta Lanterns and Large Nebuta Lanterns*** Parade

August 4th to August 6th 19:10～21:00 Large Sandman Lantern*** Parade

August 7th 13:00～15:00 Large Nebuta Lantern *** Parade, 19:15～21:00/Aomori Nebuta Festival Marine Parade·Aomori Fireworks Display

4. Viewing Locations and Transportation

Aomori Prefecture Tourism Products Blue Sea Park (2-1 Ankata, Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture) next to the ASPAM. Take JR to Aomori Station and walk for about 8 minutes. Every spring to summer, a large Nebuta parade will be set up in the park to participate in the Aomori Nebuta Festival. Lantern making hut

5. Fees

Paid area ￥2600 per person

6. Participation methods

Accompanied by the shouts of the festival, You can participate in the Nebuta Festival together by putting on the costumes of the festival dancers called "dancing people"

Tips: About costume rental: the cost is about ￥4,000 per set (extra socks, straw sandals, and hats are required. Paid

Sendai Tanabata Festival

1. Source

Sendai Tanabata Festival is a long-standing traditional festival and is known as the most beautiful " "Paper and Bamboo" festival. It has been continued since the time of the ancient feudal lord Date Masamune. Because this festival simultaneously presents the elegance of Japan's ancient star festival and the luxurious and gorgeous decorations, it is now well-known throughout Japan.

2. Event content

"Bamboo ornaments" can be viewed from the front of Sendai Station to arcade shopping streets such as "Chuo-dori" and "Ichiban-machi-dori". In addition to the luxurious and gorgeous Tanabata decorations, you can also see antique and simple bamboo decorations in the surrounding shopping streets.

"Festival Square" (Gudangtai Park Citizen Plaza) "Seven Ornaments" making experience and wishing. Short book experience, Tanabata dance, stage activities, Sendai’s charming food area, Galaxy Fantasy Lighting, etc.

3. Event time

August 6th to August 8th every year

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4. Viewing location

Sendai city center and surrounding shopping streets (the Sendai Tanabata Fireworks Festival is held near Sendai Nishi Park

5. Transportation Guide

Tips: Please use public transportation (subway, bus, taxi.

Akita Kanto. Festival

1. Source

The Kanto Festival originated in the Edo period. It means to drive away summer sleep demons, eliminate diseases, and pray for family safety. The ears of rice also mean praying for a good harvest.

2. Customs

During the festival, there will be parades on Ganden Avenue. Gandens are lanterns, which come in different sizes. The largest one is 12 meters and 50 kilograms, and can be hoisted. 46 lanterns lit with candles. The parade audience will sing "dokkoisho, dokkoisho" along with the sound of drums and flutes. The performers take turns every minute to perform the performance by raising the lantern with one hand, holding the lantern on the forehead, holding the lantern on the shoulders, and holding the lantern on the waist, and then continue to raise the height. pole until the chandelier reaches its highest point.

3. Event time

August 3rd to August 6th every year

4. Main location

The event is mainly in Akita Around the station

5. Transportation guide

You can get there by taking the JR line. From the west exit of JR Akita Station, walk for about 10-15 minutes on both sides of the avenue after crossing the bridge.

Yamagata Hanagasa Festival

1. Source

The Hanagasa Festival has a short history. It was first held in 1963 to promote tourism in Yamagata Prefecture. "Summer Festival" is developed from the performance part "Hanagasa Sound Parade", which is the theme song of the Hanagasa Festival.

2. Activity format

The event is also carried out in the form of a parade, and the formation of the parade is also very particular. There will be more than 10,000 people marching on the main road of the parade. There are various dance forms, but they are all performed to the same song. , this is one of the features of the Hanagasa Festival. There will be audience participation during the interaction: the round dance team and the flash mob team can participate.

3. Event time

Every year. August 5th - August 7th

4. Viewing location

The central city street of Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture (Tokamachi ~ Honmachi, Nanakamachi Street ~ Bunshokan

5. Transportation Guide

You can get there by taking the JR Line. Get off at Yamagata Station and walk for 10 minutes (the time required to reach the starting point of the parade)

Tips: Free to participate, no charge.

Morioka Sansa Dance Festival

1. Source

The Sansa Dance Festival originated from the "Legend of the Three Stones". An evil ghost named Luo appeared under the city. The evil ghost was doing evil everywhere, and the villagers felt miserable, so they prayed to the God of Three Stones, hoping to subdue the evil ghost. So the God of Three Stones took action to catch the evil ghost. People couldn't help but dance around the three big rocks. It is said that this is the origin of Sansa dance.

2. Activity content

The first is Sa. The dance parade usually starts at 6 p.m. There will be parade activities such as Miss Sansa Dance, Sansa Taiko Drum Team, and dance troupes. There are also traditional Sansa Dance, floats, and teams that tourists can participate in that are worth seeing.

You can also participate in the Sansa Group Dance, which starts in front of the prefectural government at around 8:30 pm. The event will be held at 7 locations within the venue, and anyone can participate freely.

There is also the most exciting Taiko Parade and large-scale group dance, which is usually held on the last day of the event. The most grand large-scale group dance will be held at the end of the event, and the scene is very spectacular.

3. Event time

Every year from August 1st to August 4th (held for four days)

Tips:

1. Tickets: 500 per person Yuan/day

2. During the festival period, from 5:30 p.m., a general information desk will be set up at the central point of Chuo-dori Street (in front of the Kita Nippon Bank Head Office) at the event venue. Interpretation guides will guide foreign tourists.

4. Viewing location

Morioka City Chuo-dori (within about 1 kilometer in front of the prefectural office)

5. Transportation guide

福 Island Straw Sandal Festival

1. Activity content

The protagonist of the Straw Sandal Festival is Japan’s largest giant straw sandal, which is 12 meters long and weighs 2 tons. There will be several giant straw sandals at the beginning of the event. Ten people, regardless of gender, paraded carrying large straw sandals. The people standing on the straw sandals worked hard to heat up the atmosphere and directed the crowd to chant the slogans of the festival. The parade would have background music, which was different during the day and night, including traditional music and hip-hop. music.

2. Event time

Friday and Saturday of the first week of August (so the time will be different every year)

3. Viewing location

The venue of the Straw Sandal Festival is located on Nobufu Street

4. Transportation Guide

You can go there by taking the JR line. It is not far from the Fukushima Train JR Station, about a 5-minute walk. You can reach the event site in minutes.

Tips: Japan’s mosquitoes are also very unfriendly during summer. It is recommended that you bring anti-mosquito products, or you can buy them in Japan.