Takko Garlic and Beef Festival

Saturday, October 2

Takko Town is one of Japan’s top the garlic producing regions and hosts the Garlic and Beef Festival annually every fall – usually during the first weekend in October. The festival features Takko garlic, Takko beef, and a whole roasted Takko cow. Takko garlic is cultivated in Takko-machi and consist of six large cloves. It contains a high sugar content and yields a rich flavor. Takko beef comes from cows reared in a spacious open-air area and fed with spring water, which produce tender and juicy meat. Products offered for purchase at the festival include Takko garlic, amber garlic, black garlic, garlic pickles, garlic sauce, garlic ramen noodles, garlic ice cream, garlic chocolates, and garlic wine.

Takko Town is located about 1.5-2 hours west of Misawa City. Since it was our first time to attend the festival, we opted to purchase advance tickets from Misawa AB ITT office because they advertised that one would not be able to participate without a ticket. In hindsight, we would have forgone the ¥2000 cost of each ticket and purchased meat and vegetables at the festival. The ¥2000 pre-paid ticket included a raffle ticket, a souvenir bag, mixed veggies (mostly cabbage, onions, carrots, and green pepper), a vile of garlic meat sauce, a bulb of Takko garlic, a package of beef (incidentally sticker priced at ¥250), chopsticks, and a small paper plate. Different grades of and quantities of meat were available for purchase and a free garlic sauce was offered inside the 229 Dome. In addition, different vendors sold other types of food.

For the first time attendee (and those not adept with chopsticks), I would recommend bringing tongs for the meat, a spatula for the veggies, a small knife to slice garlic cloves, larger and sturdier paper places, eating utensils, a small jar of cooking oil (unless you prefer the cow lard that is provided), and rice or noodles to compliment the meal. There are plenty of grills inside and outside of the dome; one just has to wait for them to open. Unfortunately, there is no set time limit. Arrive early because there may be a chance that the meat will sell out in the afternoon.

I’ve heard some people say they’re glad they did it once but probably wouldn’t do it again because of the long drive. It took us a little over two hours to get there. If you have young children, I would suggest arriving early and then stopping off at Nanbu Town to climb the Dragon Tower and relax a little before returning to Misawa.

Festival schedule

Map of festival area

Entering the festival

The day started with a full cow carcass

Notice the sanitary measures of food preparation

Inside the 229 (ni-ni-kyuu) Dome

Grill your own food

Beef, garlic, and veggies

What remained of the cow carcass at 14:30

Yikes, that's over $25 for a rope of garlic

Ninniku scarecrow

Another family of garlic scarecrows

This duck bouncy seems to be at all the local festivals

Driving Directions

Hachinohe exit

Almost there

Look for these flags to guide you in the right direction

Ninniku to Bego Matsuri