This site is an online media that delivers all sorts of trivia about the six Tohoku prefectures, from sightseeing and gourmet spots to local customs, history, and more
When you think of festivals in Akita, you might get the impression that there are many summer festivals held from July to August, such as the "Akita Kanto Festival," but there are also many attractive autumn festivals held throughout the region.
This articleImportant Intangible Folk Cultural Propertiesintroduces three festivals that have been designated as
When does the Autumn Festival start and end?
The Hanawa Bayashi food stall that has been converted into "Antora" at Kazuno Roadside Station. Source: Akita Prefecture Official Tourism Site [Akita Fan]
According to the calendar, autumn runs from August 7th, the beginning of autumn, to the day before November 7th, the beginning of winter, according to the 24 solar terms. If we apply this to the Tohoku region, the end of the summer festivals held in various places in early August marks the arrival of autumn
In this article, we will refer to the period from August 7th onwards as "autumn" according to the calendar, and festivals held after that date as "autumn festivals."
What is the definition of a festival?
Omagari's fireworks "Autumn Chapter" is also a festival in its own way. Source: Akita Prefecture Official Tourism Site [Akita Fan]
The definition of "festival" on Wikipedia is "an act (ritual) of worshiping gods, Buddhas, and ancestors for the purpose of gratitude, prayer, and consolation."
On the other hand, there are also "music festivals" and "harvest festivals" that are different from traditional religious festivals, and events where people enjoy music and local cuisine are also generally considered to be "festivals" in a broad sense
Nishimonai Bon Dance (Ugo Town: August 16th to 18th)
Panoramic view of the Bon Odori festival venue. Source: Akita Prefecture Official Tourism Site [Akita Fan]
of Ugo townthe Nishimonai, features a lively yet melancholic musical accompaniment and graceful, elegant dancing that creates a fantastical atmosphere.
Along with the Awa Odori of Tokushima and the Gujo Odori of Gifu,one of Japan's three major Bon dances, and it is a nationally designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property, and was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2022.
There are various theories about its origins, but the most popular is that it is a combination of a dance to pray for a good harvest started by ascetic monks over 700 years ago and a dance for the dead commemorating the Onodera clan that perished during the Warring States period, resulting in the Bon Odori we know today
A unique costume that hides the dancer's face
Source: Wikipedia File name: Nishimonai Bon Odori.jpg Photographer: Rufiyaa
The costumes of the dancers are said to represent the appearance of the dead, and they dance with their faces hidden by hoods or half-moon shaped straw hats
Akita Obako is rumored to have many beautiful women, but this may make them seem even more mysteriously beautiful
Hikozo hood and indigo dyed yukata
Underage girlsa Hikosazukin, securing it with a bean-patterned tenugui (hand towel) as a headband.
The indigo dyed yukata, with its distinctive red cuffs, is worn with a red or yellow cloth called "shigoki" wrapped around the waist. Men also typically wear an indigo dyed yukata and a hikozo hood, but some also wear a straw hat
Hemlock costume and woven hat
Adult women also wear straw hats pulled low over their faces, andhanuidance in costumes called
The rule is that the cuffs and hem of the hem must be made of the same patterned fabric and be arranged symmetrically. Some hem stitches are passed down from generation to generation within a family, and being able to wear them is considered proof that one has been recognized as an adult
Nishimonai Bon Odori Festival music and dance
Ohayashi Hall Source: Wikipedia File name: Nishimonai Bon Odori 20190817d.jpg Photographer: Sukucha
The festival music isjiguchi" and "jinkucomposed of flutes, large drums, small drums, shamisen, hand drums, and gongs, along with singers who perform
in the heart of townBon Odori HallThe second floor ofYose-daiko" drums signal the start of the festival, the dancers gather together in a large circle and dance around the bonfires.
There are two types of dance. In the "Ondo" dance, which has comical lyrics similar to the "Japanese rap" Akita Ondo, the dancers dance gracefully with their fingers bent gracefully, creating a striking contrast
The other "Ganke" is a fast-paced, mournful "jinku" sung, and the dancers, holding the sashes with their index fingers raised and spinning gracefully, have a melancholic quality to them
Nishimonai Bon Odori Dance <Information>
Name: Nishimonai Bon Dance
Event period: August 16th to 18th every year (19:30-22:30, until 23:00 on the 18th only)
Nishimonai soba noodles are served cold even in winter
Nishimonai Soba Source: Akita Prefecture Official Tourism Site [Akita Fan]
This soba, which has a firm texture due to the use of seaweed (funori) as a binder,Yasuke Soba-ya,is served at seven soba restaurants in town, including
This soba is served cold, with a cold broth poured over it, to make it easier to swallow, even in the cold season
Hanawa Bayashi (Hanawa, Kazuno City: August 19th-20th)
A food stall running through the town of Kazuno. Source: Akita Prefecture Official Tourism Site [Akita Fan]
, a traditional music performance from Hanawa, Kazuno City, formerly part of the Morioka Domain,Hanawa Bayashi, alongside Kanda Bayashi in Tokyo and Gion Bayashi in Kyotoone of Japan's three great traditional music performances.
This is a time-honored autumn festival that is said to have been held as the festival music for Kou Inari Shrine since the shrine was founded in 1204 (the first year of the Genkyu era)
12 musical tunes played by 10 floats
The floats move along while playing traditional music. Source: Akita Prefecture Official Tourism Site [Akita Fan]
Ten gorgeous and unique floats take to the streets, playing 12 traditional pieces: Honbayashi, Nihontaki, Ugenkyo, Kakko, Kiribayashi, Yaguruma, Yoshiwara Koshiki, Kenbayashi, Fujita, Gion, Oikomi, and Shagiri
"(low-backed floats) have no bottom, and the musicians inside the floats walk around and play in time with the float's movements.
every night around 8 PMstation square event, where each town's float gathers in the square in front of JR Kazuno-Hanawa Station, playing their traditional festival music in a competition of musical performances.
Food stalls gathered at an event in front of the station. Source: Akita Prefecture Official Tourism Site [Akita Fan]
Local performing arts such as "Machi Odori" are also performed at the event, and the excitement reaches its peak. Even after the event ends at around 9 p.m., the excitement continues as the food stalls continue to operate until the morning
What is a "town boundary greeting"?
Each townDiplomacythat carries a lantern inscribed with the wordDiplomatic Departmentand this refers to negotiations between these diplomatic departments when a festival float passes through another town's premises.
While the procession is usually peaceful, with other towns' floats being seen off when they leave the town after being permitted to pass, occasionally negotiations break down, leading to musical battles and "fighting floats" where floats are crashed into each other.
Hanawa Bayashi <Information>
Name: Hanawa Bayashi
Event period: August 19th to 20th every year
Location: Hanawa, Kazuno City, Akita Prefecture
Contact: Hanawa Bayashi Festival Committee Secretariat
Source: Akita Prefecture Official Tourism Site [Akita Fan]
Akita's famous kiritanpo, boasts a local specialty called "KazunoHorumon," which is pork intestines, tripe, heart, and other offal marinated in a sweet miso and soy sauce-based sauce and then grilled in a Genghis Khan-stylehot.
Put the offal and a large amount of cabbage and tofu in a pot and heat it over the fire. Scoop up the sauce that seeps out with a spoon and pour it over the top while simmering. The flavor will soak into the cabbage and tofu, and you won't be able to stop drinking beer or eating rice
In Kazuno, "Horumon Koraku"and "Hana Chidori" are considered the two best restaurants, and there are several others in the Hanawa area. Horumon Koraku also has branches in Morioka and other locations, and you can also order takeout or order online.
Kakunodate Festival Yama Event (Kakunodate, Senboku City: September 7th to 9th)
Yamabuttsuke Source: Akita Prefecture Official Tourism Site [Akita Fan]
known for its samurai residences and cherry blossomsa town, is designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
The festival is conducted in districts called "chounai," with the floats parading through the streets andyamabuttsukethe highlight being
However, since this Yamabutsuke does not always occur, a tourist Yamabutsuke event will be held on the 8th, the middle day of the festival
In addition to the floats, large floats are also displayed in front of the Shinmei Shrine torii gate, in front of Yakushido, at the intersection in Tatemachi, Shimoshinmachi, and in the square in front of the station
Floats and their attendants
The floats rising up due to a fierce collision. Source: Wikipedia file Kakunodate maturi 2008a.jpg. Photographer: Soica2001 (talk)
In the procession of floats decorated with warrior dolls and Kabuki dolls, the float that has finisheddescending floatits visit to the shrine is called theisthere are customs such as the "descending float" yielding the way when it encounters the "ascending float" which
within the districthariban, thanks to the diplomatic negotiations of the negotiators in the organizing committee known asyamabuttsuke" (clashing floats) is unlikely to occur. However, this is not the case when the excitement of the festival reaches its peak.
The festival music changes depending on the state of the floats
Oyamabayashi(decorative float music),Yosebayashi(gathering drums),Noboriyamabayashi(ascending float music), Dochubayashi(descending float music),Sagari Fuji(Nikatabayashi (carriage float(Shinto ritual music), represents a different stage in the procession of the floats and is played continuously throughout the procession.
There are many different schools of these tasteful musical accompaniments, and each district has its own subtle differences that you can enjoy
Akita Obaako Hand Dance
Hand dancing on the float stage. Source: Akita Prefecture Official Tourism Site [Akita Fan]
synchronized "hand danceperform a
performed to the accompaniment of traditional musicThe elegant and beautiful dance of the Akita Obakoの艶やかで美しい踊りは、勇壮な「Yamabuttsukeis a highlight of the festival, alongside
Kakunodate Festival Mountain Events <Information>
Name: Kakunodate Festival Mountain Event
Event period: September 7th to 9th every year
Location: Kakunodate, Senboku City, Akita Prefecture
For inquiries, please contact: Semboku City Tourist Information Center "Kakunodate Ekimaekura"
The Satake Kita family, lords of Kakunodate Castle, would grill and enjoy ducks and pheasants caught through falconry and other means on the spot
This dish was named "Okaribayaki" and revived in modern times as a chicken dish grilled with sansho miso sauce. It is now served in restaurants throughout Kakunodate as a new soul food.
Akita's autumn festivals are full of things to see, but the locations mentioned above have few accommodations and reservations are difficult to get, so if you want to enjoy them at your own pace, you'll need to make your reservations early
However, sightseeing tours are planned for festivals that are popular nationwide, such as the Nishimonai Bon Odori festival
Although your freedom at the destination may be somewhat limited, we recommend using these services if it is difficult to make reservations individually
Autumn Festival Series of the Six Tohoku Prefectures
I'm a former Edoite (Tokyoite) who loves Morioka and the six prefectures of Tohoku, and I'm a big fan of history, gourmet food, travel, sports, alcohol, and choral singing.
I'll introduce you to interesting things, delicious food, and great places in Tohoku!
![The Six Great Summer Festivals of Tohoku](https://jp.neft.asia/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/6dai_fes-150x150.jpg.webp "Information on the 2025 edition of the "Tohoku Six Major Festivals" that will brighten up the Tohoku summer!")
![Cod fillet](https://jp.neft.asia/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/345c9764e68ccb4b5e2f621f77ca13db-150x150.jpg.webp "[Akita] Cod is the star! Enjoy your fill of cod at the winter "Kakeuo Festival"")
