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Event Guide · Tohoku

Akita Kanto Festival

AugustKakunodate, Lake Tazawa & Nyuto Onsen
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Overview

Overview

A summer festival in Akita City that originated in the Neburi Nagashi ritual of the Horeki era (1750s), designated a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property. About 10,000 lanterns hung on some 280 kanto poles sway against the night sky like ears of rice. The venue is in central Akita City, some distance from the Weather Guide’s Kakunodate / Lake Tazawa area, so please keep that in mind.

When
Every year August 3–6 (night kanto on all 4 days; daytime kanto = Myogi Taikai skills competition on the 4th–6th)
Venue
Kanto Odori avenue in central Akita City (night kanto) and Area Nakaichi Nigiwai Hiroba plaza (daytime kanto), both in Akita City
Official website
https://www.kantou.gr.jp/
Official website (English) ↗
Highlights

Highlights

The largest pole, the Owaka, is 12 m long, weighs 50 kg and carries 46 lanterns. The highlight is the skill of the performers balancing it on their palm (hirate), forehead, shoulder and lower back. The sight of the kanto poles bending and swaying against the night sky to the festival music of drums and flutes is breathtaking.

Times

Times

Night kanto: kanto poles enter18:45– (18:50– on the 4th and 5th)

Kanto Odori. Information from the Akita City Kanto Festival Executive Committee for 2026

Night kanto: performance19:10–20:35

Kanto Odori. 2026 information

Drone show20:35–20:50

August 3 and 6 only. Newly introduced in 2026

Daytime kanto (Myogi Taikai skills competition)9:00–15:40 (9:20–15:00 on the 6th)

August 4–6, Area Nakaichi Nigiwai Hiroba. Planned to move to CNA Arena Akita (Akita City Gymnasium) in rain. 2026 information

Times can change from year to year. Check the official website for the latest information.

Tips

Tips for travelers

  • ✓To watch the night kanto seated, buy a paid viewing seat (2026: box seats for 6 people 28,000 yen, S seats 4,500 yen, A seats 4,000 yen, B seats 3,500 yen; same price for adults and children, free for infants who don’t need a seat). Individual sales start in mid-May
  • ✓At the daytime Myogi Taikai, you can watch the performers’ skills up close in daylight
  • ✓In 2026, a drone show was also held after the night kanto on the 3rd and 6th
  • ✓The venue in Akita City is some distance from Kakunodate and Lake Tazawa, so if you are staying in the Kakunodate area, check return train times in advance
  • ✓Even outside the festival period, you can see real kanto poles and performances at the Neburi Nagashi Kan museum in Akita City
Access

Getting there

Nearest stations
  • JR Akita Station (JR Akita Shinkansen, Ou Line and Uetsu Line)About 15 min on footTo the night kanto venue on Kanto Odori
  • JR Akita StationAbout 10 min on footTo the daytime kanto (Myogi Taikai) venue
From major stations
  • Tokyo Station: Akita Shinkansen Komachi to Akita Station
IC cards (Suica etc.)
Nationally interoperable IC transit cards such as Suica can be used on JR conventional lines in the Akita area, including Akita Station (within the area only; trips crossing into other Suica areas such as Sendai or Morioka are not possible)
Getting back
  • After the performance, crowds head toward Akita Station all at once, so waiting a little makes walking easier
  • If you are returning outside Akita City, such as to Kakunodate, check last train times in advance
Open in Google Maps ↗
Crowds

Crowds & best timing

Busiest times
During the night kanto (about 19:00–20:30)
Quieter times
The daytime kanto (Myogi Taikai)
Saving a spot
For a guaranteed view, get a paid viewing seat
Time needed
The night kanto performance lasts about 1.5 hours
Weather

Weather & what to wear

Evening temperatures
August normals for the Weather Guide’s Kakunodate / Lake Tazawa / Nyuto Onsen area (Kakunodate) are a high of 29.7°C and a low of 19.8°C (JMA normals). The observation point differs from the venue in Akita City, so use this as a rough guide
What to wear
Summer clothes are fine. For the daytime kanto, beat the heat with a hat and drinks
Rain, snow & typhoons
Times may be shortened due to weather, but performances go ahead during breaks in the rain and, as a rule, are not canceled. In rain, the daytime kanto is planned to be held at CNA Arena Akita (2026)
Where to check for cancellations
Akita Kanto Festival official website (https://www.kantou.gr.jp/), Akita City Kanto Festival Executive Committee Office (018-888-5602)
☁ Tohoku weather in August →
Etiquette

Local rules & etiquette

  • !Follow staff instructions at the venue
  • !Take your trash home
  • !Public trash bins are rare in Japan. Bring a small bag and take your trash with you.
  • !Smoking while walking is banned in many cities. Use designated smoking areas.
Facilities

Facilities

Toilets
Temporary toilets, including child-priority toilets, are set up around the venue
Lockers & luggage
It’s best to leave suitcases at your accommodation or in station coin lockers before coming
Paying at food stalls
Some street stalls may be cash only, so bring cash as well
ATMs
Convenience store ATMs around Akita Station
Seven Bank ATMs (inside 7-Eleven stores) usually accept cards issued overseas.
Wheelchairs & strollers
Wheelchair-accessible parking requires advance reservation (Akita City Kanto Festival Executive Committee, 018-888-5602)
Food

Food

Local favorites
Street food at the Kanto Yatai-mura stall villageKiritanpo (grilled rice sticks)Inaniwa udonIburi-gakko (smoked pickled daikon)
Vegetarian & halal
Street stalls rarely label vegetarian or halal options, so it helps to look up nearby restaurants in advance
Tours & tickets for this eventPR
🏨 Where to stay during the event

Accommodation in Akita City gets busy during the festival, so book early

Where to Stay · Agoda

Places to Stay near Akita Kanto FestivalPR

PRSee more places to stay near Akita Kanto Festival on Agoda →

Prices and availability are shown on Agoda.

Attractions

Attractions in Kakunodate, Lake Tazawa & Nyuto Onsen

Zoo

Akita Omoriyama Zoo

Tohoku ・ Akita City, Akita

A zoo in Omoriyama Park run by Akita City. As of August 2026, it keeps 524 animals of 88 species. Admission is free for high school students and younger, and with the Anipa amusement park and large play equipment on site, families can spend a whole day here.

Aquarium

Oga Aquarium GAO

Tohoku ・ Oga, Akita

An aquarium on the Sea of Japan coast of the Oga Peninsula. It has a large tank recreating the Oga sea, exhibits of polar bears, seals, penguins, and more, and a museum devoted to hatahata (sandfish), an Akita specialty. From Akita Station, take the JR Oga Line to Oga Station (about 1 hour), then a bus or shared taxi.

☂ Mostly indoors · rain-friendly
See all attractions →
Events

Events & festivals in Tohoku

February

Yokote Kamakura Festival

Tohoku ・ Kakunodate, Lake Tazawa & Nyuto Onsen

From 2026, held every year on the second Friday and Saturday of February (the Friday and Saturday just before the Bonden events; changed to the second Friday and Saturday on a trial basis through 2029)

2027: Feb 12 (Fri) & Feb 13 (Sat)

April–May

Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival

Tohoku ・ Hirosaki

Usually late April to early May (timed to the cherry blossom season; April 10 – May 5 in 2026)

2027: Apr 16 (Fri) – May 5 (Wed, holiday), 20 days

August

Aomori Nebuta Festival

Tohoku ・ Aomori & Hakkoda

Every year August 2–7 (eve festival on August 1; night parades August 2–6; daytime parade, evening sea parade and Aomori Fireworks Festival on the 7th)

August

Sendai Tanabata Festival

Tohoku ・ Sendai & Matsushima

Every year August 6–8 (Sendai Tanabata Fireworks Festival as the eve event on August 5)

December–February

Zao Snow Monsters Light-up

Tohoku ・ Yamagata, Zao & Yamadera

The light-up is usually held on selected days from late December to late February (36 days between December 27 and February 22 in the 2025–2026 season). The best season for the snow monsters is late January to late February

See all events →

Dates, times and access are based on official and other primary sources. Only dates confirmed by official sources are shown as “Confirmed dates”; otherwise the usual timing is given.

Last checked: 2026-10-02

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