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Aomori Prefecture is surrounded by the sea on three sides, and the amount of snowfall and climate vary from region to region, but each region holds its own festivals to help people enjoy the long winter
In this article, we will introduce three winter festivals that are enjoyed not only by local residents but also by many tourists, and are known as the Three Great Winter Festivals of Aomori
Lake Towada Winter Story 2025 (Towada City)
"Maiden Statue" near Yasumiya Multipurpose Square on the shore of Lake Towada. Source: Aomori Prefecture Tourism Information Site "Amazing AOMORI"
This winter festival is held every year in the Yasumiya district, which borders Akita Prefecture, on the shores of Lake Towada, where there are numerous accommodations and souvenir shops at the tourist steamship dock
Source: Aomori Prefecture Tourism Information Site "Amazing AOMORI"
You can enjoy Lake Towada in the harsh winter with activities such as fireworks that light up the night sky, illuminated snow sculptures, and snow slides, as well as a food stall village where you can sample local cuisine and B-grade gourmet food
Snow park slide. Photo courtesy of Lake Towada Winter Story Executive Committee
In addition, a special stage made of snow will host performances of local performing arts such as lion dances and Nebuta music, and the Snow Park you can enjoy activities such as a large snow slide and a banana boat pulled by a snowmobile.
Lake Towada Yasumiya Multipurpose Square from Friday, January 31st to Monday, February 24th (national holiday) , and we recommend staying at one of the nearby accommodations to enjoy the event.
Winter fireworks reflected on the lake
Fireworks at Winter Story. Photo courtesy of Lake Towada Winter Story Executive Committee
During the festival, large fireworks synchronized with the music playing in the venue will be launched for about 10 minutes from 8:00 p.m. every day except Tuesdays and Wednesdays (except on the national holiday of February 11th)
Large winter fireworks Source: Aomori Prefecture Tourism Information Site "Amazing AOMORI"
Message fireworks are also available, so why not order them in advance and send a message to someone special?
Yukiakari Yokocho: A gathering of local gourmet foods
Yukiakari Yokocho, lined with many stalls. Photo courtesy of Lake Towada Winter Story Executive Committee
A food stall village where you can enjoy warm local cuisine and B-grade gourmet food will be set up in a corner of Yasumiya Multipurpose Square. It will be open from 4pm on weekdays and from 11am to 8pm on weekends and holidays
Towada's specialty, barayaki. Photo courtesy of Lake Towada Winter Story Executive Committee
Towada's specialty " barayaki " and Misawa's specialty " paika nabe ," as well as pork soup, ramen, gyoza, pork skewers, pizza, and more. A giant kamakura (snow hut) built within the venue will be transformed into a " kamakura bar ," where you can enjoy cocktails served in glasses made from ice.
Hirosaki Castle Snow Lantern Festival (Hirosaki City)
Castle tower and snow lanterns Source: Hirosaki Tourism and Convention Association Official Website
Hirosaki Park is known for its cherry blossoms in spring and autumn leaves in autumn, but in winter the castle tower and trees are covered in snow, creating a world of pure white
The Hirosaki Castle Snow Lantern Festival held in Hirosaki Park in the winter snow lanterns handcrafted by local residents , as well as a corridor decorated with Neputa floats, which are lit up at night, creating a fantastical atmosphere.
"Tsugaru Nishikie Grand Corridor" decorated with Neputa paintings. Source: Aomori Prefecture Tourism Information Site "Amazing AOMORI"
A large snow slide and large snow sculptures are built at the former site of the Yonomaki Maru, which serves as the main venue, and are lit up along with the castle tower, old pines, and other trees, creating a gorgeous and beautiful sight
Snow slide Source: Hirosaki Tourism and Convention Association Official Website
Various events are held during the day, and many food and drink stalls are set up from 10am to 9pm
In 2025, the festival is scheduled to be held from February 7th (Friday) to the 11th (Tuesday, national holiday), with approximately 150 snow lanterns set up throughout the park and approximately 300 miniature snow huts set up in the western enclosure
Large snow sculptures and vibrant projection mapping
Large snow sculptures created with the cooperation of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. Source: Hirosaki Tourism and Convention Association Official Website
In recent years, citizen groups have been performing projection mapping onto large snow sculptures and historical buildings, and this will be done again this year
Last year, the projection mapping projected onto a large snow sculpture modeled after the Hakodate Orthodox Church
Hirosaki Castle Snow Lantern Festival <Information>
Name: Hirosaki Castle Snow Lantern Festival
Event period: February 7th (Fri) to 11th (Tues, national holiday), 2025, 10:00-21:00 every day (until 20:00 on the last day)
Venue: Hirosaki Park "Hirosaki Castle Ruins"
For inquiries, please contact the Hirosaki Tourism and Convention Association (inside the Hirosaki City Tourist Center)
Hachinohe Enburi (Hachinohe City, as well as Hashikami Town, Nanbu Town, Oirase Town, and Gonohe Town)
Printing on snow
This is a folk event held in the Hachinohe area as spring approaches, to pray for a good harvest for the year
It is a local performing art that has been passed down in the Hachinohe region for over 800 years and has been designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan
Each region has a "group" of around 20 to 30 people, including the master, dancers, musicians, and singers, and while the Enburi scenario is the same, each group performs a unique dance
The dancers, who wear eboshi hats shaped like horse heads, are called " Tayu perform the "Suri" dance , which depicts work such as rice planting, while shaking their heads vigorously
It is held every year from February 17th to 20th, but Enburi groups from Hashikami Town, Nanbu Town, Oirase Town, and Gonohe Town around Hachinohe perform their dances in their local areas beforehand
"Nagaenburi" and "Dosaienburi"
The Enburi the beginning of the printing , the middle of the printing , and the final printing , and in between these parts, children perform celebration dance
The dancers are the main performer, Tokuro, who holds a clapper (narigo) , and several other tayu (court dwellers) who hold the handles of hoes (suki).
the slow " Nagaenburi ," Fujikuro's dance is different from that of the other tayu.
all the tayu perform the same dynamic dance, Dosai Enburi which is a fast-paced dance held on a metal-attached stick (jangi)
The "Issui-zuri" festival sees the center of Hachinohe dyed in Enburi colors
Offering at Chojayama Silla Shrine Source: Aomori Prefecture Tourism Information Site "Amazing AOMORI"
On the first day (17th), from 7am, the Enburi group will perform dedicationat Chojasan Shinra Shrine
Printing in the center of Hachinohe City Source: Aomori Prefecture Tourism Information Site "Amazing AOMORI"
Afterwards, they will move to Choja Festival Square and parade through the center of Hachinohe city in an Enburi procession, where they will dance together from 10:40 to 11:20
The highlight of Hachinohe Enburi is the "Issei-zuri" dance, in which over 30 Enburi groups gather in the city center and dance together
Garden Enburi
"Oniiwa Enburi" dancing in the garden Source: Aomori Prefecture Tourism Information Site "Amazing AOMORI"
Kojokaku the former residence of a wealthy family , and is a reproduction of the Enburi dance that was once performed in the mansions of large landowners and merchants.
Reservations and an admission fee are required to view the performance, but the Enburi dance in the garden at night has a fantastical atmosphere, and you can enjoy the dance while sipping Hachinohe rice cracker soup and sweet sake
Children's "Blessing Art"
This is an adorable dance performed by children wearing heavy makeup, in between the adults' paintings
Enko-enko : Holding a ring with a coin inside, called a "zeni-daiko" (coin drum), and spinning it, they dance to the kouta (Japanese folk song) "Money Tree."
Pine Dance : This dance is said to have originated from dancing with pine branches during breaks from farm work, and instead of branches, the dancers hold fans.
Ebisu Dance : A dance depicting Ebisu catching a sea bream, holding a fishing rod and a fan, and finally offering the sea bream to his husband.
Daikoku Dance : Holding a mallet in the right hand and a fan in the left hand, the dancer dances to the accompaniment of auspicious speeches and songs.
Other Enburi Events
In addition to the four days of Enburi, there are also door-to-door performances throughout the city to invite blessings, and Enburi performances at various times in various places in Hachinohe, as listed below
Gozen Enburi : This Enburi was danced in front of the lord of southern Hachinohe, and is now performed in front of the mayor of Hachinohe and other related parties.
Nejo Castle Enburi : Enburi held in front of the main hall of the Nejo Castle, a historic site that is one of Japan's 100 most famous castles (admission fee to the square required)
Enburi performance : You can enjoy the dance at your leisure on the stage of Hachinohe City Public Hall for a fee.
Enburi open to the public : Held during the day on a special stage in front of Hachinohe City Hall, free to watch
Bonfire Enburi : A dance performance is held every night for four days at the Civic Square in front of the Hachinohe City Hall, where bonfires are lit.
Hachinohe Enburi <Information>
Name: Hachinohe Enburi
Event period: February 17th to 20th every year (Monday to Thursday in 2025)
Location: Hachinohe city center and other locations (Chojayama Silla Shrine, Hachinohe City Hall Main Building Civic Square, Hachinohe City Public Hall, Kojokaku, Nejo Historic Site Square, etc.)
In addition to the winter festivals introduced above, various winter events are planned all over Aomori Prefecture to make the long winter just a little more enjoyable
Of the three winter festivals introduced in this article, the Hirosaki Castle Snow Lantern Festival and the Hachinohe Enburi are considered to be among the five major snow festivals in Michinoku, and attract many tourists during their periods
I am a former Edo guy who loves Morioka, loves the six prefectures of Tohoku, and loves history, gourmet food, travel, sports, alcohol, and singing. We'll introduce you to some interesting, delicious, and good things about Tohoku!
