[Iwate Prefecture] Enjoy the winter in Iwate! 3 recommended winter festivals!

Iwate Prefecture is said to be particularly cold among the six prefectures of Tohoku, and many different styles of winter festivals are held here to enjoy the winter.

All of these events are elaborately designed to help you enjoy the harsh winter without giving in to the snow, ice, or cold.

In this article, we will introduce three particularly recommended winter festivals.

Shizukuishi Winter Festival in Koiwai Farm (Shizukuishi Town)

It will be held in February 2023 as a successor event to Iwate Snow , which has been a popular winter feature in Iwate for many years

This is a winter festival where you can enjoy various attractions and local gourmet food at the vast Makibaen of Koiwai Farm, which is known nationwide.

Attractions that both adults and children can enjoy

A popular attraction is the thrilling snow train, which is pulled by a snowmobile and skids across the snowy field.

In addition, there is a kids slope where you can play sledding and a mini archery corner, so both adults and children can have fun together.

Various events are planned on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, such as character shows, sled races, and treasure hunts in the snow.

Also, on Saturdays during the festival period from January 25th (Saturday) to February 16th (Sunday), the park will be illuminated with illuminations and you can also enjoy fireworks.

Gourmet menu with a wide variety of dishes, from minced meat cutlets to hotpot dishes to steaks.

why not try Kamakura GyuGyu you can enjoy hot hot pot dishes inside a kamakura

In addition, you can enjoy the famous lamb and Koiwai beef dishes at Sanrokukan, and snacks such as minced meat cutlets, bisa, meat buns, and fries at the farm kitchen and kitchen cars lined up in the park.

For dessert after your meal, we recommend Koiwai Farm Soft-serve ice cream

Also recommended! KOIWAI Winter Lights Galaxy Farm Night (Koiwai Winter Lights)

Prior to the Shizukuishi Winter Festival, from Saturday, November 23, 2024 to Monday, January 13, 2025, Makiba Garden will be illuminated with brightly colored illuminations using approximately 600,000 light bulbs.

There are many spots filled with light, such as the Galaxy Express SL that appears in the darkness with dazzling lights, milk carton lanterns and milk bottle towers, light tunnels, and a light maze.

To enjoy these attractions, it is convenient to use the ``Hoshimeguri Liner,'' which goes around the park.

The illumination will be held from 4pm to 8pm, and there will be fireworks on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

Shizukuishi Winter Festa in Koiwai Farm & KOIWAI Winter Lights Galaxy Farm Night <Information>

• Name: KOIWAI Winter Lights Galaxy Farm Night 2024
• Event period: November 23, 2024 (Sat) to January 13, 2025 (Mon)
• Fireworks dates: December 31st (Tuesday) 18:30~ (about 5 minutes), January 1st (Wednesday) 19:30~ (about 5 minutes)
• Holding time: 16:00-20:00 (last entry 19:00), December 31st (Tuesday) 16:00-19:00 (last entry 18:30)
• Admission fee: 1,000 yen for adults (junior high school students and older), free for elementary school students and younger, 300 yen for pets (dogs)

• Name: 3rd Shizukuishi Winter Festa in Koiwai Farm
• Event period: January 25, 2025 (Sat) - February 16, 2025 (Sun)
• Fireworks dates: January 25th (Sat), February 1st (Sat), 8th (Sat), 15th (Sat)
• Event hours: 9:00-16:30 (last entry 15:30), fireworks days 9:00-20:00 (last entry 19:00)
• Admission fee: Adults (junior high school students and older) 400 yen, Elementary school students and younger 150 yen, Pets (dogs) 300 yen

• Venue: Koiwai Farm (36-1 Maruyachi, Shizukuishi-cho, Iwate-gun, Iwate Prefecture)
• Contact: Koiwai Farm
• Phone number: 019-692-4321 (Reception hours 9:00-17:30)
• URL: Koiwai Farm official website

GOOGLE MAP

The coldest “Ice World” in Honshu (Yabukawa, Morioka City)

There is a nature experience facility called Aguri Mahora Iwate in Yabukawa, ` the coldest place on Honshu '', which is famous for fishing for smelt on the ice of Lake Iwado, which freezes over in winter

This facility also has a campground where you can enjoy nature experiences such as picking wild vegetables in the spring, growing vegetables in the summer, picking mushrooms in the fall, and fishing for char and red trout.

`` Japan's Coldest Camping Experience '' is an event that takes advantage of the harsh winters unique to this region, and `` Ice World '' is one such event where you can experience winter nature.

During the day, you can enjoy activities such as smelt fishing on the ice, a skating rink, snow rafting on a snowmobile, sledding, and an experience of making ice candles.

Light up with approximately 400,000 LED bulbs

The most recommended event is the illumination of the entire venue from dusk to night.

Ice caves, castles, houses, ice sculptures, forests, etc. appear fantastically, making you feel as if you have wandered into the world of the Disney animation "Frozen."

This season's "Ice World" is scheduled to run from December 21, 2024 (Saturday) to February 24, 2025 (Monday, substitute holiday), but all facilities will be illuminated only on one day. It is scheduled to start on Saturday, March 18th.

ice cave

In a section of the venue called Ice Town, there will be an ``Ice Cave'' completely surrounded by ice, measuring 20m long, 10m wide, and 5m high.

The beauty of the area lit up at night creates a romantic atmosphere that cannot be described in words, making it a particularly recommended spot for lovers.

Ice wedding experience at ice castle and ice bar

The ice castle is a two-story building with a height of 9 meters, and if you go up to the second floor, you can see the whole venue.

The interior of the castle is modeled after a wedding hall, and is a great photo spot where you can enjoy a wedding experience in the ice world, with features such as `mannequins with exposed faces

There is also a bar inside the castle, where you can enjoy cold drinks in ice glasses, as well as hot drinks such as hot cocktails to warm up your cold body.

Mahora Enjin Shrine on the premises of the facility, which is said to bring luck in marriage , and there are mannequins for couples wearing white and crested hakama.

Warm spot “Kamakura de Kotatsu”

A kamakura has been built as a photo spot, and the snowy scenery that you can admire while eating warm snacks such as ramen and hot pot inside is popular as a different experience.

In addition, there are many hot spots at the venue, as shown below, that you can use when you feel cold.

Please note that each location has different business hours, so it is best to check the official website before visiting.

• Hinata Hall (souvenir shop)
• Rest House Komorebikan
• ice town cafe
• finnish sauna

Ice world <Information>

• Name: Ice World
• Event period: December 21, 2024 (Saturday) to February 24, 2025 (Monday, substitute holiday)
• Hours: 14:00-20:00 (10:00-21:00 on days before and holidays after January 18th)
• Opening hours (days for viewing only): Mondays and Tuesdays after January 20th 16:00-20:00
• Admission fee: 1,200 yen for adults (junior high school students and above), 700 yen for elementary school students, 500 yen for preschoolers, free for children under 3 years old
• Closed: Mondays and Tuesdays in December, January 6th (Monday), 7th (Tuesday), 14th (Tuesday) to 17th (Friday), 2025
• Venue: Mahora Iwate (436-1 Toyama, Yabukawa, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture)
• Contact: Mahora Iwate
• Phone number: 019-681-5470
• URL: Mahora Iwate official website (“World of Ice” special page)

GOOGLE MAP

Hanamaki Star Tour Night (Hanamaki City)

It is a moving event where lanterns with wishes are launched onto the slopes of Namari Onsen Ski Resort in Hanamaki Onsen Village, and many faint lights dance in the clear night sky.

A lantern is a balloon with an open bottom made of bamboo and paper.The air inside is heated with a gas burner and then oiled paper is burned at the bottom.It is a type of hot air balloon that can be seen in countries such as China and Thailand.

As you admire the fantastical beauty of numerous lanterns floating up into the starry sky from the pure white ski slopes, the lanterns that rise high into the sky gradually become smaller and smaller.

At the venue, dynamic fireworks are set off in contrast to the quiet lanterns, and the night sky is filled with large, beautiful, moving flowers that are completely different from the static beauty mentioned earlier.

How can I participate in “Hanamaki Star Tour Night”?

This event is open to guests staying at the hot spring resort, so you will need to reserve your accommodation and apply from there.For safety reasons, a minimum of two people are required to launch a lantern.

In addition, you will be transported to the venue by car from your accommodation, so you can enjoy a leisurely dinner after the event, and even if you get cold, you can return to your accommodation and immediately warm up in the hot springs.

Hanamaki Star Tour Night＜Information＞

• Name: Hanamaki Star Tour Night
• Event period: 1/19 (Sun), 1/26 (Sun), 2/2 (Sun), 2/11 (Tue), 2/16 (Sun)
• Venue: Namida Onsen Ski Resort (36-1 Namina Nakadaira, Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture)
• Participation fee: Adults (junior high school students and above) 1,500 yen, Elementary school students 1,000 yen, Preschool children free
• Other costs: Lantern: 1,000 yen (tax included, cannot be taken home), accommodation fee to Hanamaki Onsenkyo
• Contact: Hanamaki Tourism Association
• Phone number: 0198-29-4522
• URL: Hanamaki Tourism Association Official Website

GOOGLE MAP

summary

Iwate Prefecture is a large prefecture with many mountains and basins other than the Sanriku coast, and its winters are harsher than those in Tohoku. However, various winter events have been created to take advantage of this.

It's nice to spend your holidays relaxing and cozy at home, but why not make sure to protect yourself from the cold and go out into the world of snow and ice that can only be seen in winter?