Enjoy the winter in Iwate Prefecture! Three recommended winter festivals!

Iwate Prefecture, which is known as the coldest of the six Tohoku prefectures, hosts a variety of winter festivals to help you enjoy the winter

Both events are designed to help people enjoy the harsh winter without succumbing to the snow, ice, or cold

In this article, we will introduce three winter festivals that we particularly recommend

Shizukuishi Winter Festival at Koiwai Farm (Shizukuishi Town)

Iwate Snow , which has long been a beloved winter tradition in Iwate , and the 2025 season will be its third time.

This winter festival takes place at the vast Makiba Garden of the nationally renowned Koiwai Farm, and offers a variety of attractions and local cuisine

Attractions that both adults and children can enjoy

One of the most popular attractions is the thrilling Snow Train, where you are pulled by a snowmobile and skid across the snowy fields

There is also 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 scheduled for Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, including character shows, sled races, and snow treasure hunts

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

A wide variety of gourmet dishes, from minced meat cutlets to hotpot dishes and steaks

why not try Kamakura GyuGyu , where you can enjoy a hot pot meal inside a kamakura

At the Sanrokukan you can enjoy the famous lamb and Koiwai beef dishes, and at the farm kitchen and food trucks lined up around the park you can enjoy light meals such as minced meat cutlets, pizza, meat buns, and french fries

we recommend Koiwai Farm Soft Serve Ice Cream , served in a cute cow-patterned cup

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

Leading up to the Shizukuishi Winter Festival, Makibaen will be illuminated with vibrant colors using approximately 600,000 light bulbs from Saturday, November 23, 2024 to Monday, January 13, 2025

There are many spots filled with light, such as the Galaxy Express steam locomotive that stands out in the darkness with its dazzling light, milk carton lanterns and milk bottle towers, a tunnel of light, and a maze of light

To enjoy these sights, it is convenient to use the "Star Tour Liner" which goes around the entire park

The illuminations are on from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM, and fireworks are set off on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day

Shizukuishi Winter Festival at Koiwai Farm & KOIWAI Winter Lights Night at Galaxy Farm <Information>

• Name: KOIWAI Winter Lights Galaxy Farm Night 2024
• Event period: Saturday, November 23, 2024 - Monday, January 13, 2025
• Fireworks: December 31st (Tuesday) from 18:30 (approximately 5 minutes), January 1st (Wednesday) from 19:30 (approximately 5 minutes)
• Event hours: 16:00-20:00 (last entrance 19:00), December 31st (Tue) 16:00-19:00 (last entrance 18:30)
• Admission fee: Adults (junior high school students and above) 1,000 yen, elementary school students and younger free, pets (dogs) 300 yen

• Name: 3rd Shizukuishi Winter Festival in Koiwai Farm
• Event period: Saturday, January 25th, 2025 to Sunday, February 16th, 2025
• Fireworks dates: January 25th (Sat), February 1st (Sat), 8th (Sat), 15th (Sat)
• Opening hours: 9:00-16:30 (last entrance 15:30), fireworks day: 9:00-20:00 (last entrance 19:00)
• Admission fee: Adults (junior high school students and above) 400 yen, elementary school students and below 150 yen, pets (dogs) 300 yen

• Location: 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)

Yabukawa , coldest place in Honshu, " famous for ice fishing for smelt on Lake Iwato, which freezes over in winter, is a nature experience facility called Aguri Mahora

This facility also has a campsite where you can enjoy nature experiences such as harvesting wild vegetables in the spring, growing vegetables in the summer, and picking mushrooms in the fall, as well as fishing for rock trout and kokanee salmon

" Japan's Coldest Camping Experience " is an event that takes advantage of the region's uniquely harsh winter temperatures, and " Ice World " is one of the events that allows you to experience winter nature.

During the day, you can enjoy activities such as ice fishing for smelt, a skating rink, snow rafting on a snowy field pulled by a snowmobile, sledding, and making ice candles

Illumination with approximately 400,000 LED bulbs

The best thing to see is when the entire venue is lit up in the evening

Ice caves, castles, houses, ice sculptures, forests and more all appear in a fantastical way, 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 Saturday, December 21, 2024 to Monday, February 24, 2025 (a substitute holiday), but all facilities are scheduled to be lit up from Saturday, January 18

Ice cave

In a section of the venue called Ice Town, an "ice cave" will appear, completely surrounded by ice and measuring 20m in length, 10m in width and 5m in height

The beauty of the illuminated area at night creates an indescribably romantic atmosphere, making it a particularly recommended spot for couples

Ice wedding experience at the Ice Castle and Ice Bar

The Ice Castle is 9m high and has two floors, and if you go up to the second floor you can get a panoramic view of the entire venue

The inside of the castle is modeled after a wedding venue, and it is a great photo spot where you can enjoy a wedding experience in an icy world, including face-out mannequins

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

Additionally, on the facility grounds there Mahora En Shrine , which is said to bring good fortune in finding love, and there are mannequins there with their faces exposed for couples wearing white wedding kimonos and crested hakama.

Warm spot "Kamakura Kotatsu"

Snow huts have been built as photo spots, and the sight of admiring the snowy scenery while eating hot snacks like ramen and hot pot inside them is a unique experience that is well-received

There are also plenty of hot spots available at the venue for when you feel chilly:

Please note that each facility has different opening hours, so it is a good idea 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: Saturday, December 21, 2024 to Monday, February 24, 2025 (substitute holiday)
• Opening hours: 14:00-20:00 (10:00-21:00 on days before holidays and holidays from January 18th onwards)
• Opening hours (viewing only): Mondays and Tuesdays from January 20th onwards, 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
• Admission fee: Adults (junior high school students and above) 1,200 yen, elementary school students 700 yen, preschoolers 500 yen, free for children under 3
• Closed: Mondays and Tuesdays in December, January 6th (Monday), 7th (Tuesday), 14th (Tuesday) - 17th (Friday) 2025
• Location: Mahora Iwate (436-1 Toyama, Yabukawa, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture)
• Contact: Mahora Iwate
• Phone number: 019-681-5470
• URL: Mahora Iwate Official Website (Special page for "Ice World")

GOOGLE MAP

Hanamaki Starry Night (Hanamaki City)

This is a moving event where lanterns filled with wishes are launched into the air on the slopes of Namari Onsen Ski Resort in Hanamaki Onsenkyo, and many soft lights dance in the clear night sky

A lantern is an open-bottomed balloon made from bamboo and paper. It is a type of hot air balloon that is launched by heating the air inside with a gas burner and then burning oil paper or other material at the bottom. Lanterns can be seen in China, Thailand, and other countries

As you gaze upon the beautiful, fantastical sight of countless lanterns soaring from the pure white slopes into the starry sky, the lanterns high in the sky gradually become smaller

Then, at the venue, vibrant fireworks are launched, contrasting with the quiet lanterns, and large, beautiful flowers of movement spread across the night sky, a stark contrast to the quiet beauty of the previous display

How can I participate in "Hanamaki Starry Night"?

This is an event that is open to guests staying at the hot spring resort, so you will need to make a reservation at your accommodation and apply through there.For safety reasons, at least two people are required to launch one lantern

You will be provided with a car from your accommodation to the venue, so you can enjoy a leisurely dinner after the event, and if you get cold, you can quickly warm up in the hot springs when you return to your accommodation

Hanamaki Starry Night <Information>

• Title: Hanamaki Starry Night
• Event dates: 1/19 (Sun), 1/26 (Sun), 2/2 (Sun), 2/11 (Tue), 2/16 (Sun)
• Location: Nabe Onsen Ski Resort (36-1 Nabe Nakahira, Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture)
• Participation fee: Adults (junior high school students and above) 1,500 yen, elementary school students 1,000 yen, preschoolers free
• Other costs: Lantern: 1,000 yen each (tax included, cannot be taken home), accommodation fee for Hanamaki Onsenkyo
• For inquiries, please contact: Hanamaki Tourism Association
• Phone number: 0198-29-4522
• URL: Hanamaki Tourism Association Official Website

GOOGLE MAP

summary

Iwate Prefecture is large in area and has many mountains and basins, except for the Sanriku coast, so the winters are the coldest even in Tohoku, but a variety of winter events have been created to take advantage of this and make it enjoyable

It's nice to spend your holidays relaxing in the warmth of your home, but why not dress warmly and head out into the world of snow and ice that can only be seen in winter?

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Daiwa Consilio

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!