Japan was originally a country of farmers, and most of its festivals are connected with the agricultural calendar. Every region has its own autumn festival to thank the local deity for harvest and to pray for an even better one the following year.
It seems fitting that this is Towada City’s largest festival. The Tohoku region accounts for over 20 percent of the nation’s rice crop. Towada City has become one of the areas with the highest yield of agricultural products, which include yams, Chinese yams, leeks, shitake mushrooms, burdocks, and garlic. Not to mention, local fisheries breed fish eggs, red salmon, and rainbow trout, while farmers produce tender beef, shamrock chicken, and pleasant horsemeat.
Towada City Autumn Festival customarily takes place the second weekend of September. For three days, September 10, 11, and 12, Towada City’s main street, Kanchogai Dori, provides the platform for the parade.
Even though it rained almost non-stop on Saturday, the festivities continued, but prevented us from going. Fortunately, it was clear Sunday morning and we were able to see the magnificent parade of floats, dancers, and taiko drummers. Unfortunately, the parade appeared a bit rushed and timing seemed to be almost perfect because as the last dance troupe sashayed down the street, a light drizzle began to fall.
Dates: Second weekend of September
Location: The main street and Kanchogai Dori (a.k.a. Koma Kaido), Towada City
Access: 15 mins on foot from Towada City Station, Towada Kanko Dentetsu Railway
Information: Towada City Tourism Association 0176-24-1111
Towada City getting there from Misawa AFB
http://traveling-tengco.blogspot.com/2010/08/towada-city-aomori-prefecture-maps.html
Follow driving directions 1-2 from my Aug 2010 blog: Towada City Directions and Maps.
Some streets will be closed, so follow directed traffic.
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