Must-see hot events held in Tohoku for August, 2017 brought to you by MagicalTrip staff. We highlight the best events for anyone visiting Tohoku in August, 2017 and wondering what to do.
Plan a trip around the various traditional events held in Tohoku in August, 2017.
There are also lots of interesting festivals and events held in well known cities of Japan. Check it out!
1. Goshogawara Firework Festival (August 3rd)
Goshogawara Firework Festival” is composed of various sizes of starmines. It is held in the Goshogawara city, in Aomori prefecture. It is on the central part of the Tsugaru plain, located in the central southern part of the Tsugaru peninsula. The name Goshogawara is originated from the fact that there were five wide kawara. The Goshogawara Firework festival is a historical festival of “water, light and sound” that is held the 68th time this year. Starmine, musical fireworks, the No.4 balls will be launched while synchronizing with the uptempo BGM, and the place will be surrounded by cheers of the audience. The finalle consists of 300m wide starmine, lit up 80m wide water curtains; the collaboration of water, fireworks and music is a must-see.
Schedule
Tuesday, August 1, 2017 PM 7:30 ~ PM 9:00
Postponed on bad weather: August 9th (Wednesday) 2017
Access & Address
About 15 minutes on foot from JR Gono Line Goshogawara Station
Admission & Reservation
■Fee · Freestanding 1 person 400 yen (500 yen on the day)
· Designated viewing booth 1 square (2 m × 2 m) 6 people 5,000 yen (blue sheet, with 1 program, combined fireworks for buyer’s purchaser)
※ Both free seats and designated seats are charged for elementary school students and above
■ Reservation
It is necessary to purchase tickets and make a reservation in advance. Please inquire whether there is a ticket stock.
· Free viewing seats ⇒ June 5 (Mon) – August 2 (Wed) · Designated seats ⇒ June 1 (Thu) – June 9 (Fri)
Official Site
Goshogawara Firework Festival Official Site
2. Oga Nihonkai Firework Festival (August 14th)
Oga Nihonkai Firework festival will be held at the OGA Marine Part at the venue, where about 10,000 fireworks will be launched. Oga is located in the western part of Akita Prefecture; it is said that the name of Oga is stated in the Nihon Shoki, and a burden (oga) became an ogre (oga). In this festival, the volunteers are those who are related to Oga and those who love Oga; it is relatively a young festival as it is the 15th time this year in order to wish for Oga’s vitality. In 2017,the theme will be “Stars on stage – A Midsummer Night’s Battle” with No.10 balls at the biggest, starmines and water starmines, and message fireworks with the collaboration of musical and lights.
Fireworks of Daikyoku collaborated with a someone who received many awards for fireworks and an MC; the one hour and half minute long programme has an original story and high quality performances of fireworks.
On the day, the messages of fireworks sent to important people along with the photo contest is the unique viewing point of this festival. Every year, the audience is pumped up since the message fireworks are used for proposals too.
Schedule
Monday, August 14, 2017 PM7:00 ~ PM9:00 Fireworks from PM7:30 (Scheduled) Carried rain or shine, but postponed on bad weather
Access & Address
5 minutes on foot from JR Oga station
Travel time: 1 hour from Akita station
Oga-shi, Funagawa Port Funakawa, Akita OGA Marine Park
Admission & Reservation
■ Price 1 sheet 1000 yen
※ junior high school student 500 yen, younger free
■ reservation
Although you can purchase the ticket on the day, it is recommended to purchase in advance as congestion is expected.
Please inquire whether there is a ticket stock.
Official Site
Oga Nihonkai Firework Festival Official Site
3. Ishinomaki River Festival (August 1st)
The festival dedicated to the gratitude to Hokujo River that flows through Ishinomaki river bank will be held. The river opening festival is a festival that is appreciated for the grace of the river, and moreover the sanctification of the ancestors.
On July 31st thanks to Kawamura Magobei to the built of foundation of the development of Ishinomaki, a memorial to the spirits, a dedication for those who passed away in the 311 Earthquake in Japan as well as the lanterns lit on rivers will be held on the Hokujo River.
On August 1st, various parades such as the “Mikoshi parade” “Primary school students drum parades” “Omatsuri Area” will he held along with the main event, Magobee boat race that will be held in the Hokujo River.
The atheletes will aim for victory as they row the boat, the cheers will be raised from the audiences from the riverbank. There will also be fireworks in the finale at night with jumbo starmines and illusion starmines.
Schedule
Tuesday, August 1, 2017
PM 7: 30 ~ PM 9: 00
※ Delivered rain or shine, but will be postponed the next day if bad weather
Access & Address
15 minutes on foot from JR Ishinomaki Line, JR Sengoku Line, JR Sengoku Tohoku Line Ishinomaki Station
Travel time from JR Sendai station: 1 hour 20 minutes
Nakase, Hokujogawa, Ishinomaki-shi, Miyagi
Admission & Reservation
■ Fee
free
■ Reservation
There is no need to make a reservation
Official Site
Ishinomaki River Festival Official Site
4. 27th Akagawa Firework Festival (August 19th)
source:flickr
This festival has more than 30 thousand people every ear, and the launching place is set aside from the Haguo Bridge and the Mikawa Bridge that goes through Akagawa River of the Tsuruoka city.
It is also a competition between firework craftsman for the “Nationwide Firework Design Competition”. They entered the top 10 in the “100 Selection of Japanese Fireworks” and is rated as the best fireworks in Japan, and fans come from all over the country each year.
Fireworks have the launching width of max 700 m. It makes full use of the Akagawa Riverside, and is an original competition that you can’t see anywhere else. In the mass seats you will have to look directly up for its powerfulness; the finale is especially a must-see.
Schedule
Saturday, August 19, 2017
PM 7: 15 ~ PM 9: 00
※ delivered rain or shine, but cancelled on bad weather
Access & Address
15 minutes on foot from JR Tsuruoka Station ※ Temporary Shuttle Bus Operation from JR Tsuruoka Station
Travel time from Yamagata station: 2 hours 10 minutes
Tsuruoka-shi, Akagawa Kahan, Yamagata
Admission & Reservation
■ Fee
It’s free, but there is a charge seat
■ Reservation
There is no need to make a reservation
Official Site
Akagawa Firework Festival Official Site
5. Numazawako Water Festival (August 5th-6th)
Numazawa Water Festival is an annual festival in Kanayama town that is nown for the village of spirits and the big snake. It is held at the Numazawa lake where the legend of the serpent is told, and is loved by those who worship the serpent.
On the first day there are nature experiences like water games, ikada race, fish grabbing, and stage performance and floating lanterns. At night, there will be starming fireworks launched on the lake.
As the Kanayama town is known for its legend of the serpent, there will be mystical Niagara and water starmine fireworks, which is a must-see of this festival. On the second day, there will be character shows, stage performance, and the serpent extermination as the main event while arts of those era will be reproduced as well.
Schedule
August 5, 2017 (Saturday)
Access & Address
About 20 minutes by car from JR Todami Line “Aizu Kawaguchi Station”
Travel time from Fukushima station: 4 hours 20 minutes
Kanayama cho, Ooji Numazawa-chinai, Fukushima
Admission & Reservation
■ Fee
free
■ Reservation
There is no need to make a reservation
Official Site
Numazawako Water Festival Official Site
6. Fukuyama Dream Firework Festival (August 6th)
source:Fukuyamamachi-shokokai
Fukuyama Dream Firework Festival is a hand crafted summer festival that is organized mainly by the Youth League of The Society of Commerce and Industry that is held at the Fukuyama riverbed multipurpose venue.
There will be a festival called “”Children’s Festival”” that will be held along with Bingo and fast drink competition, hula dance, and lottery etc.
If you come in a yukata you will receive one raffle ticket, and if you come as a couple wearing yukatas you will receive three. There will be stalls lining up, and is usually crowded with families. The finale of the festival will be decorated with fireworks, and the huge fireworks launched on the sky of Abukuma River attracts the spectators every year.
You must see the starmine and twin flowers, musical fireworks, and the huge fireworks along with the shaku balls which will be launched for an hour.
Schedule
August 5, 2017 (Saturday)
PM 7: 30 ~ PM 8: 30
※ Delivered rain or shine, but postponed to next day if bad weather
Access & Address
From JR “Koriyama” station, ride the Fukushima Transport bus to Miharu via Maiki for 15 min. Get off at Mizuana and walk for 5 minutes
Travel time: 30 minutes from Fukushima station
Fukuyama Kasenjiki Tamokuteki Hiroba, Koriyama-shi, Fukushima
Admission & Reservation
■ Fee
free
■ Reservation
There is no need to make a reservation
Official Site
Fukuyama Dream Firework Festival Official Site
7. Atsumi Onsen Asaichi (August 1st – 31st)
“Atsumi Onsen Asaichi” has a history over 260 years and is held at Tsuruoka city, Atsumi.
Atsumi onsen is famous for its mild hot spring and the relaxing sound of the streaming water. They also serve dishes cooked with good quality seasonal ingrediets along with the hotspring and their warm hospitality.
During the events, there will be various items such as agricultural products like red burns, fishery processed products and souveniers that are arranged in the morning market place which will definetely entertain you.
As it is a hot spring district, you can stroll around the morning market in yukata and geta while enjoying the calls called “Aba” between the customers and salesgirls.
Schedule
August 1, 2017 (Thursday) – August 31, 2017 (Thursday)
AM 5: 30 ~ AM 8: 30
Access & Address
About 7 minutes by bus on JR Muromachi Line “Atsumi Onsen Station” to “Atsumi Onsen Center” via “Atsumi Onsen” line – 3 minutes on foot
Travel time from Yamagata station: 3 hours 15 minutes
Yuatsumi, Tsuruoka-shi, Yamagata
Admission & Reservation
■ Fee
free
■ Reservation
There is no need to make a reservation