TRADITIONAL FESTIVAL 秋田のまつり

Got amazed of the Kamakura. Experienced the majestic view on top of the Yokote castle and had a taste of local food of Yokote while resting inside Kamakura! It was indeed a day of fun and learning as well!Darwin, Philippines

The snow hut is truly an admirable thing to witness and appreciate how the Japanese adapted to their weather conditions. It is amazing to witness how this was practiced and is still organized in modern day Japan.Fyfy, Botswana

Yokote kamakura festival is one of my favorite festivals in Akita. Mini-kamakura houses lighted up at night some themed ‘love’ gives one nothing but a feeling of excitement and fun. A fantastic festival it is!Kay, Botswana

Coming from a tropical country, I am fascinated with snow and much more with the concept of making a room out of a snow mound. But that’s not the only attraction in this festival. Kamakura Festival has a lot to offer…the white backdrop from the thick snow with mini-Kamakuras matched with the dancing and glowing illuminations, the sweet Amazake freely offered by the friendly junior high school students inside the Kamakura, the beautiful view of the Yokote castle the backdrop of the Kamakura’s, and the enchanting night view from the Yokote Castle. We also had the chance to lit up the candles inside the Kamakuras displayed along the road.Jen, Philippine

This festival was amazing! There you can try by yourself swinging a bale of hay with fire around your body. You’ll feel warm because of the big bonfires and at the end you can enjoy fireworks at the rhythm of the music.Sandra, Honduras

The “Hiburi Kamakura” festival reminded me of our traditional ceremony in my county! last Tuesday night of every year in Iranian calendar (somewhere in the middle of March) we are making big fires with our families and friends!Hadi, Iran

This is probably my favorite winter festival in Japan. A giant tug of war involving thousands of people in the main street of Daisen. Choose a side, hold on tightly to the rope and pull with all your might. Everyone is encouraged to join in and it’s so much fun.Wil, Australia

The paper balloon festival was awesome! I wrote my wish on the balloon, it flew and my wish really came true! The cold didn’t bother meTina, Indonesia

The numerous colorful balloons with pictures of samurai, geisha and anime characters will make you think for a moment that you are no longer part of this world but instead you have fallen into one of Hayao Miyazaki’s movies. A truly marvelous view, a spectacle of light, music and snowGrigore Florin, Romania

It was one of great experiences I had in Japan! I have never seen such big and beautiful balloons before, so I really enjoyed it! Even though it was cold that day, one could warm himself by drinks and food from the stalls around, so it was a nice decision to go there!Anna, Ukraine

I’ll never forget the sound of all the children crying in the night as we watched the Namahage begin their slow descent down from the mountain towards us. It is at once fascinating, humorous and macabre.Wil, Australia

The event brings you closer to the story telling in the Japanese culture. It is very interesting to learn how discipline was instilled in the past and how the children responded to it. Just be prepared to be scared too…..?Fyfy, Botswana

Brighten up your winter by visiting Inukko Festival in downtown Yuzawa. A short walk from the train station, be prepared to catch snowflakes on your nose, to be lured in by the smells at yummy festival food booths, and to pose for photos next to giant dog statues made of snow. The origins of the event date back 400 years, when there was a thief wreaking havoc in the region. It has developed into a grand display featuring guard dogs standing in front of ornately carved snow shrines. In the daytime, catch a ride on a horse-drawn sleigh, warm up in the dome selling locally crafted goods and best of all, watch dogs of all sizes and breeds walking around with their owners. In the evening, escape the chill with a taste of Yuzawa’s famous sake and stick around for fireworks lighting up the statues in this winter wonderland.Debbra, USA

The world’s most exciting bamboo festival, “TAKEUCHI “ here in Rokugo, Misato.Akita.It’s fascinating to see people wearing helmets and jackets,hitting each other in a friendly way.I enjoyed reading the wishes written in Kanji on the colorful cloth called the “TEMPITSU“, which is about 3 meters long.
In the course of the festival, people throw the Tempitsu into the fire so their wishes burn up and transform them into dreams that may come true.
This time I`d love you to experience this traditional festival which is as old as 700 years.Please do take part in this amazing event.Believe me, it’s a great festival full of excitement and phenomenal people to be with.Melvin Alexcie Pattern, Australia