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Akita is a nook of Japan that’s impressed me since my first journey there nearly six years in the past. Again then, within the useless of winter, I took an unassuming winter sojourn to Kakunodate Samurai district—I used to be hooked; the remaining is historical past.
Solely it wasn’t. Through the years, I’ve returned to plenty of locations in Akita for varied causes. Notably, the prefecture was one of many three locations I based mostly myself on my first journey to Japan following the top of Japan’s covid-related journey restrictions.
So imagine me once I say this: If there’s only one cause you come right here, let or not it’s the spectacular Akita Kanto Matsuri, which takes place yearly in early August.
Why I Grew to become Obsessed With Attending Akita’s Summer time Pageant
I first discovered of the Akita Kanto matsuri pageant one night in September 2022, whereas on the metropolis’s surprisingly small historical past museum. Seeing the huge kanto float elevated above the room made me excited in regards to the prospect of coming again for the pageant, although the main points I discovered once I did extra analysis disenchanted me: I’d been simply six weeks late for 2022’s pageant.
My analysis additionally led me to the conclusion that motels could be extraordinarily tough to get, so I began planning my 2023 journey nearly instantly. It was hopeless to start with—I ended up making dummy bookings for properties far out of city—however I ultimately acquired a room in central Akita (and in close by Aomori, for the pageant there) and…properly, the remaining is historical past.
How one can Make the Most of Akita Kanto Matsuri
E book your lodge manner prematurely
To listen to locals inform it, motels for Akita Kanto Matsuri ebook out a 12 months prematurely. In follow, nonetheless, I discover that rooms don’t reliably start showing till about six months out (so, early February), although they disappear after that. My recommendation is to not be too choosy about the place you keep. Positive, be choosy by way of the room—don’t stay in a “Smoking Room” when you aren’t a smoker, however any lodge in central Akita is a “good” lodge, for this goal.
Arrive as early as potential
Whether or not you see the Akita pageant on a day journey or do handle to snag a room, there’s advantage in attending to the town a bit earlier than sundown, which is when festivities start in earnest. To start with, as a result of there are mini-performances and kanto demonstrations that happen throughout daytime. However secondly, since you’ll wish to take a while to loosen up earlier than night time falls and the adrenaline kicks in.
Sightsee when you haven’t already
In fact, “stress-free” doesn’t need to imply lazing, though it’s completely fantastic when you select to laze. Nevertheless, when you’ve by no means been to Akita, I do counsel doing a little sightseeing when you’re on the town earlier than the parade. This may very well be one thing so simple as visiting the Kubota Fortress Ruins, or the Lotus Pond in entrance of them, or taking a highway journey onto the Oga Peninsula when you occur to have a automotive.
Discover a good beginning spot
Not surprisingly, the parade for the Akita summer season pageant takes place alongside Kanto-dori, about 20 minutes by foot west of Akita Station. Anyplace alongside this highway is ok to face—each float of the parade passes by each block—so discover someplace that isn’t too crowded, and the place you will get a spot with an unobstructed view, if in any respect potential.
However don’t be afraid to discover
Some vacationers (particularly those that buy “VIP” tickets) could be excited in regards to the prospect of with the ability to watch the Akita Pageant from one vantage level. Alternatively, there’s advantage to strolling round because it occurs, significantly if you wish to quench your thirst or satiate your starvation at avenue meals stalls arrange within the neighborhood of the pageant space.
When is the 2025 Akita Kanto Matsuri? What About 2026?
As is the case in yearly, Akita’s Kanto Matsuri will happen between August 3-6, 2025. The excellent news about that is that when you can’t get a lodge one night time, you could have three different possibilities. Moreover, when you plan to attend different matsuri that happen across the identical time, reminiscent of those in Aomori, Hachinohe and Goshogawara, this enables you to not have to choose and select.
Planning to attend the Akita Kanto pageant in 2026? The dates are the identical: August 3-6. Nevertheless, as you’ll be able to think about, lodge bookings open up solely a 12 months prematurely at most (and are normally greatest to ebook at round six months out). So when you’re planning on attending the 2026 version the Akita Kanto Matsuri and also you’re studying this in late 2024 or early 2025, chill. You may have no less than six months earlier than you might want to begin transferring!
Different FAQ About Attending the Akita Kanto Matsuri
What’s the that means of the Akita Kanto pageant?
Courting again to the seventeenth century, the Akita Kanto Matsuri has a comparatively easy motivation: To hope for a superb harvest. This is smart, after all, since Akita is such an agriculturally productive a part of Japan. As of late, after all, the that means of the pageant has far much less to drop with crops, and extra to do with the prefecture’s picture and tourism stats.
What’s Akita, Japan recognized for?
Akita is understood for the annual Akita Kanto Matsuri pageant, for the legendary Namahage creatures that Japanese youngsters imagine reside in its forests and for being the origin of two of Japan’s best-known canine: The Akita (shocker!) and the Shiba Inu. Mockingly, Akita can be recognized for being a comparatively unknown a part of Japan, although I’m after all doing my greatest to alter that.
When is the perfect time to go to Akita?
Akita has 4 very well-defined seasons, and is gorgeous throughout all of them. Nevertheless, I believe it’s value coming to Akita in early August for the annual Kanto Matsuri Pageant, when you can. Along with the floats and parades, there’s a pleasant lotus pond in entrance of the Kubota Fortress Ruins that will probably be blooming presently.
The Backside Line
The Akita Kanto Matsuri is among the most spectacular celebrations not solely in Akita prefecture, however in the entire of Japan. It transforms a metropolis whose location most individuals aren’t in a position to find on a map into one they’ll’t overlook. Whether or not due to the huge kanto floats that appears to fly by means of the air through the nightly parade, or the busy meals vans and festive temper that sweep by means of the town as an entire, it’s a spectacle that deserves being recognized among the many greatest festivals in Japan. Wish to attend Akita’s annual matsuri, however don’t know the place to start? Rent me to plan your journey!
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