Lake Towada Kunizaki (Border) Festival

Saturday, September 4

Festival Pamphlet

Although Lake Towada only touches two prefectures (Aomori and Akita), this Festival combines floats, dancers and other performers as well as traditional foods and music from the three northern-most prefectures of Honshu - Aomori, Akita, and Iwate. It is a good opportunity to see some aspects of northern Japan, not part of Misawa summer festivities.

Description from Towada City Tourist Guide

Although there are two parades – an afternoon one at 15:30 and an evening one at 18:50 – each parade has different participants. Dance troupes partake in the afternoon parade, while floats promenade streets in the evening. In addition, spectators can purchase seats at an open venue for a better look at both dancers and floats.

Iwasaki Demon Sword Dance

Dancers from Akita Prefecture

Taiko Drummers

Akita Lanterns

Preparing for showtime

More taiko drums

And still more taiko drums

The Kanto Matsuri (pole lantern festival) is a Tanabata related celebration in Akita City, held every year from August 3rd to 6th. The highlight of the festival is an impressive display of skill in which performers balance kanto, or long bamboo poles with arrays of paper lanterns attached to the end. The kanto poles come in different sizes with the largest measuring 12 meters, weighting 50 kgs. (110 lbs.) and carrying as many as 46 paper lanterns, lit by real candles. To the sound of drums, flutes and onlookers chanting "dokkoisho, dokkoisho", each kanto is hoisted up by a single performer who balances it on their palm, and transfer it smoothly to their shoulder, lower back, forehead, and other performers.

Akita lantern performance

Amazing balance and coordination

These guys know where to stand and then just drop the lanterns into place

I was quite excited to see this festival because of the opportunity of seeing nebuta floats at night. I wondered how they would relocate those large structures into the narrow streets of Lake Towada. I was disappointed to see a smaller nebuta floats paraded. I’m not quite if more nebuta floats flowed because sleepy children and the idea of being stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic persuaded us to leave at 20:00.

Aomori City Nebuta Float

Like the Aomori Nebuta Festival, huge painted papier-mâché are paraded through night streets, illuminated from within. However, the floats are generally fan-shaped, with two flat sides. One portrays a historical battle scene while the reverse shows a beautiful woman, often framed by scenes of death. The local view is that Hirosaki reflects the sombre mood of preparation for war while Aomori expresses the jubilant return from a victorious battle.

Hirosaki City Neputa Float

Small float

2010 Festival Map

Lake Towada 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.

Lake Towada

Look overhead for a blue sign that reads Route 102 (Lake Towada) and make a right.

Some signs might only have the Japanese names for Lake Towada (Nenokuchi) and Oirase Gorge (Ishikedo) or both. Notice the blue traffic signs to make sure you are on the correct course.
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.

Continue through the winding road along Oirase Gorge. When the road comes to a T-intersection, turn left on to Route 103.

Follow the road into Ysumiya area. The road will come to a Y-intersection. The left side is JR Bus Station and the right side is the parking area. Pay ¥410 for parking.