Misawa Summer Festival

Saturday, August 21: Mikoshi Carry

Misawa city’ s annual four-day summer festival lasted from Aug. 19 to Aug. 22. The parade route snakes through the downtown district, on “White Pole Road,” and passes American Park in front of Misawa Air Base. As with all matsuris that meander in front of the base, the front gate will be closed (17:00 to 21:00 on Friday; 15:00 to 21:00 on Saturday; and 13:00 to 15:00 on Sunday) for automobiles but open to foot traffic. Levitow Gate and the POL Gate will be open for vehicle traffic.

Each night of the parade varies slightly.

Thursday: Parade floats are on display at the Miss Veedol Dome at 17:00. Drum and flute competition follows at 18:00.

Friday: Floats will be paraded through downtown Misawa from 16:00 to 19:15.

Saturday: Traditional Japanese arts on display in American Park beginning at 13:00. A costume parade begins at 15:00, followed by a dance parade at 16:30, and hand-carried portable shrines (mikoshi) at 17:30 p.m.

Sunday: A repeat of Friday’s parade begins at 13:30.

Going out every weekend with children and battling with crowds through humidity has tired me out. Even though this parade was in our town, we only managed to attend the festivities Saturday night because Kyle participated in the mikoshi carry. If it weren’t for the heat wave, we probably would have gone to seen the floats displayed. Actually, by this time, almost all summer festival parades seem to contain the same components – entourage of dancers, men dressed in women's attire, and portable shires.

The costume parade on Saturday for some reason had Disney-themed participants. I don’t quite understand all the men dressed in drag during the parades. I know in old kabuki theatre, men played female roles too. Anyway, I wish I had taken more photos of the playful, wacky attire, but alas, I was maneuvering my double stroller and trying to secure a position where the kids and I could see Kyle in the parade.

More interesting than the parade were the activities that followed. All mikoshi participants gathered for a show-down at American Park. They transported the shrine to the circular stage, then proceeded to dance and spin it upon their shoulders wildly to music. Deafening whistles blowing and boisterous chants ensued as spectators cheered for their favorite groups. After several spin demonstrations, the Misawa International Association, with its base contestants, won the competition.

Male dancers

Female dancers

Mascot

Junior sumo group

In traditional sumo garb

Kendo demonstration

Mikoshi carry

Waiting to see dad in the parade

Misawa International Association Mikoshi

There's dad!

Another mikoshi

Taking a quick break

Misawa nebuta float (front)

Misawa nebuta float (back)

Karinba Chinese Restaurant

Misawa has many Chinese restaurants, some better than others. Karinba has, by far, the most extensive food menu. The portions are large and take-out is available.

They are located on Falcon Street.

Click on the image for a larger view.

Stone Oven Restaurant

Sunday, August 15: Pizza!

I am not a voracious reader by any means, at least not in the traditional literary sense. However, I prefer non-fictional text (such as my CS4 books), and I scour local publications and the internet for things to do, events to watch, places to visit, or restaurants to try in Japan. In the July 9, 2010 issue of The Misawa Insider, there was a review that recommended a pizza place near Lake Towada and Oirase Gorge.

Stone Oven Restaurant, located in a log cabin building called North Village, positioned across from the Oirase visitor’s Center. Inside the restaurant are eight tables (6-four person, and 2-two person, which can be configured differently) and outside there are 4 tables that sit six people. Upstairs houses a small pro shop which sells limited outdoor wear, gear, books, stationary, and others.

We arrived about 45 minutes from the city center on a hot, rainy day. After waiting about 30 minutes, we were seated inside. My husband and I ordered the spicy jerk chicken plate and a margherita pizza. We were so hungry that I forgot to take pictures of our food. We’d definitely come back to eat here again and would like to hike the trails when our daughter is a little older.

Limited daily hours, order by 15:30.
Quaint interior, friendly staff.
Referred to as North Village Restaurant in The Insider
Stone oven grilled platters

Crispy thin pizza options


Drinks and desserts

Oirase Gorge getting there from Misawa AFB

http://traveling-tengco.blogspot.com/2010/08/towada-city-aomori-prefecture-maps.html

Follow driving directions numbers 1 - 12 from my Aug 2010 blog: Towada City Directions and Maps.

Look overhead for a blue sign that reads Route 102 (Lake Towada) and make a right. If you get to this sign, you've gone too far.

Notice the blue traffic signs to make sure you are on the correct course.

Some signs might only have the Japanese names for Lake Towada (Nenokuchi) and Oirase Gorge (Ishikedo) or both.

Continue driving.

When the road comes to a Y-intersection, make a left over the small bridge to stay on Route 102. Proceeding forward to Route 103 will take you to Hakkoda.

Stone Oven Pizza Restaurant will be on your left inside the North Village log cabin building. Parking is available on the premises or across the street at the Oirase Visitor’s Center.

Towada Art Center

Sunday, August 15: Towada City Museum of Art

Relatively new, the Towada Art Center opened in 2008 and merges Japanese and international modern, contemporary, and pop art. Both the outside and the inside of the museum aesthetically please the eye.

Excerpt from Towada City Tourist Guidebook

Museum has English handout (yeah!)

Museum entrance fees costs ¥500 for the permanent collection and ¥600 for the special exhibit. When viewed on the same day, there is a ¥200 discount. If you are short on money and unsure about who is featured for the special exhibit, purchase a ticket for the permanent exhibit. As with many Japanese museums, purchase tickets from a vending machine located next to the information desk. After purchasing your ticket, make sure to ask for parking validation, otherwise you will have to pay for parking.

Upon approaching the museum, one cannot help but catch a glimpse of the massive horse on Kanchogai-dori. Created by South Korean installation artist Jeong Hwa Choi, this horse adorned with colorful flowers conspicuously welcomes visitors to Towada Art Center.

Nonoru Tsubaki’s (Japanese) mutant red ant, aTTA, protects the west side of the museum.

At 4m tall, Ron Mueck’s (Australian) Standing Woman disconcerts visitors. Her wrinkled pallid flesh, gaping smoky pupils, and bulging azure veins, mesmerize guests because of its disturbing authentic human resemblance. No picture allowed because it was inside the museum. However, if you’ve never heard of him, definitely Google for images of his jarring sculptures.

Do-Ho Suh’s (another South Korean artist) installation also caught my attention. Appearing like a gigantic jelly-fish chandelier, these almost transparent shapes slowly change hues in a continuum from red, to orange, and translucent.

Upon further speculation, one will notice that over ten thousand piggy-backing figures form the finished work. This picture was taken through the window from the outside. (I really need to get a polarizing filter.)

Across the street, exists a permanent outdoor installation by Yayoi Kusama (Japanese) titled, Love Forever, Singing in Towada. As noted on the Towada Art Center webpage, subjects of multiplying polka dots hails from her childhood hallucinatory experiences during her stay in New York during the 60s.

Ghost by Inges Idee (Compromised of four German artists – Hans Hemmert, Axel Lieber, Thomas A. Schmidt, and Georg Zeyit)

Towada Art Center Hours: 09:00 – 17:00

Closed: Mondays (Tuesdays if Monday is a holiday)

Phone: 0176-20-1127; Website: http://www.city.towada.lg.jp/artstowada/eng/index.html

Towada City Art Center getting there from Misawa AFB

http://traveling-tengco.blogspot.com/2010/08/towada-city-aomori-prefecture-maps.html

Follow driving directions numbers 1 - 12 from my Aug 2010 blog: Towada City Directions and Maps.

Follow the signs and make a right on to Kanchogai-dori (Horse Street).

Turn right at the street corner of the museum. Proceed forward two blocks to a parking lot on the left. This is FREE museum parking. When you purchase your ticket at Towada Art Center, make sure to ask for parking validation, otherwise you will have to pay for parking.