Akita is hot even in winter! 4 recommended winter festivals

Akita residents love festivals. The Kanto Festival is one of Tohoku's three major festivals, and virtually everyone knows about it. Many Akita residents feel their blood boil when they hear the sounds of festival music practice as the Kanto Festival approaches. The Omagari Fireworks Festival is also famous and broadcast on television every year, and the Noshiro Tanabata Festival, "The Sleepless Castle in the Sky," is also a spectacular sight. Thus, Akita is a "festival paradise," and the entire prefecture gets excited about these events.
However, all of the festivals mentioned so far are summer festivals. Does that mean there are no winter festivals? Not at all. In Akita's cold, snowy winters, there are plenty of festivals that warm both the heart and body.

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[Oga City] Namahage Sedo Festival

Many people are familiar with Namahage. This festival is a combination of the Shinto ritual "Sedo Festival" and the folk Namahage event, and in the grounds of Shinzan Shrine in Oga City, Namahage perform a vigorous dance under the light of lanterns. The wild dance is very impressive and captivates the viewers

Link:Akita Prefecture Official Tourism Site [AkitaFan] – Namahage Sedo Festival

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[Yokote City] Yokote Snow Festival (Kamakura)

The water god is enshrined in the kamakura, and children call out to passersby, "Come in!" and offer sweet sake and roasted rice cakes. Interacting with the locals while eating sweet sake and rice cakes will warm your heart

Link:Akita Prefecture Official Tourism Site [AkitaFan] – Yokote Snow Festival (Snow Huts)

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[Yuzawa City] Dog Festival

This festival in the Yuzawa region involves offering dogs to a snow shrine and praying for protection from theft. This festival is also famous for attracting dog lovers from all over the country, as it also includes a dog prayer ceremony. Many dogs, including Akita dogs, gather at this festival, so it is recommended for dog lovers. The dog statues made out of snow are also very cute

Link:Akita Prefecture Official Tourism Site [AkitaFan] – Inukko Festival

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[Semboku City] Paper balloon launch in Kamihinokinai

Giant paper balloons with images of warriors and beautiful women are lit and the sight of them soaring into the night sky is beautiful and fantastical. The sight of countless paper balloons shining and floating up into the night sky is also called "winter fireflies." It's very romantic, so it's recommended for couples to watch it together

Link:Akita Prefecture Official Tourism Site [Akita Fan] – Paper Balloon Launch in Kami-Hinokinai

Akita has many other interesting winter festivals besides the ones mentioned above. These are hot festivals in a cold, snowy country. Be sure to experience them for yourself