THE 7 BEST POPULAR EVENT GUIDE IN TOHOKU - APRIL 2018
Since Tohoku region is located in “cold area” in Japan, so the peak of cherry blossom comes later than that of Tokyo city. There are many events and festivals celebrating arrival of cherry blossom. We want you to join them when you visit Tohoku region. Today, we will introduce 7 events held in spring season of 2018.
Nature event
１.Hirosaki Sakura Festival – Apr. 21st ～ May. 6th in 2018（the date would vary according to the condition of Cherry Blossom）
source:hirosakipark
Hirosaki Sakura Festival is held at Hirosaki Park in the late April when the cherry starts to bloom. Hirosaki Park is famous for good spot of Sakura among all over Japan. It has nominated as both “one of the 100 best Sakura spot in Japan” and “100 best scenery of Japan”. We can enjoy the collaboration of beautiful Sakura and Hirosaki castle. There are 50 kinds and 2600 trees of Sakura. The moat of castle will be filled up with petals of Sakura. We call it “Hanaikada”. And 「Tunnel of Sakura」 that is said to be the most beautiful scenery of Sakura in Japan must be checked as well.
There are some performances such as singing and Japanese traditional culture at Maru-Engeijo. We can enjoy purchasing some specialty gifts and eating some local foods at stalls.
Schedule
・Date and time
Apr. 21st ～ May. 6th in 2018 (The illumination time is between sunset to 22:00 pm)
・Schedule of each event
None.
Access & Address
・Place
Hirosaki Park
・The Closest Station’s Name, The Means of Transportation and The Time Required to Get The Destination
About 30min walk from 「Hirosaki Station」（10min by taxi）
・The Terminal Station’s Name, The Time Required From The Station to Get The Destination
About 1 hour by walk and train from 「Aomori Station」
・Address
1-1, Shimoshirogane-cho, Hirosaki-shi, Aomori, 〒036-8356
・Map
Price & Reservation
The combination ticket for Hirosaki castle and Hirosaki botanical garden：510 yen for high school students and older, 160 yen for elementary school student・junior high school student. Free for another area. No need to reserve.
Official Website
http://www.hirosakipark.jp/sakura/
2.Kanagi Sakura Festival – Apr.29th ～ May. 6th in 2018
source:tabi-mag
Kanagi Sakura Festival is held at the Ashino Park that is nominated as “one of the 100 best Sakura spot in Japan” between April and May. As many as 500000 of people visit this park during the festival period. We can enjoy several events such like local and traditional culture – Tsugaru Shamisen, some kind tournaments, shopping, Hanami, fireworks.
Ashino Park used to be the playground of a famous novelist – Osamu Dazai when he was a child. Ashino Park has the train rail that runs across this huge park. This train named Tsugaru Tetsudo is very popular among tourist. Especially when it runs in the tunnel of Sakura, we can see beautiful scenery. We can also enjoy riding in the boat on the lake, and watching some animals in zoo. It is recommended for family visitor. At night, these Sakura trees are illuminated and we can enjoy different atmosphere from that of daytime.
Schedule
・Date and time
Apr.29th ～ May. 6th in 2018 ()
The night illumination : 5:00pm～9:00pm
・Schedule of each event
None.
Access & Address
・Place
Ashino Park
・The Closest Station’s Name, The Means of Transportation and The Time Required to Get The Destination
Just nearby Tsugaru Tetsudo 「Ashino Kouen Station」
・The Terminal Station’s Name, The Time Required From The Station to Get The Destination
About 2 hours by train from Aomori station
・Address
Ashino, Kanagi-cho, Goshogawara-shi, Aomori, 〒037-0202
・Map
Price & Reservation
Free. No need to reserve.
Official Website
http://www.go-kankou.jp/matsuri_event/index.html
3.Hachimantai Aspite Line（The snow road）Opening ceremony – Apr. 15th in 2018
Hachimantai Aspite Line is located in Iwate that is an area of heavy snowfall. It is as long as 27 km length of drive way that is running across Hachimantai. Because of the heavy snow, we are not allowed to go through during the winter season. But when the spring comes, the restriction is removed. In this season, huge and several meters tall of snow wall is remain unmelted. It is called 「Yukinokairo (The Snow Road)」 and counted as one of the famous sightseeing spot.
Moreover, several kinds of spring flowers will be in bloom around Hachimantai Aspite Line. These collaboration of snow road, colorful flowers, and blue sky are great. But since the road might be icy street at night time, we are not allowed to go there at night. Even on daytime, it prohibited to go depending on the weather. The Rental car and sightseeing bus are useful to visit there.
Schedule
・Date and time
Apr. 15th in 2018 ～ late May5
・Schedule of each event
None.
Access & Address
・Place
Hachimantai Aspite Line
・The Closest Station’s Name, The Means of Transportation and The Time Required to Get The Destination
About 36 min by taxi from Matsuo Hachimantai Station
・The Terminal Station’s Name, The Time Required From The Station to Get The Destination
About 120 min by bus from 「Morioka Station」
・Address
Hachimantai-shi, Iwate 〒028-7305
・Map
Official Website
4.Shiogamasama Kamigami-no-Hanaakari – Apr. 13th ～ 14th in 2018
source:s.webry
Shiogamasama Kamigami-no-Hanatomori is the event that held in Shiwahiko Shrine in April. There is hill that has 202 stairs are beautifully illuminated in this event. Shiwahiko Shrine has long history and nominated as important cultural property of the country.
In this event, the candles set in the short-cut-bamboo cylinder are arranged in a row. The hill is lighten by the candle’s fire, it is very dreamy scenery. At the main spot of the shrine, Japanese old music with Koto and flute is performed. We could feel as if we are time traveling to old Japan. This is the event that we can enjoy 3 beauties of cherry blossom, lights, and music at the same time.
Schedule
・Date and time
Apr. 13th ～ 14th in 2018 6:30pm～8:30pm （cancelled when it rains）
・Schedule of each event
None.
Access & Address
・Place
Shiwahiko Shrine・ inside of Shiwahiko Shrine
・The Closest Station’s Name, The Means of Transportation and The Time Required to Get The Destination
About 5 min walk from 「JR Honshiogawa Station」
・The Terminal Station’s Name, The Time Required From The Station to Get The Destination
About 30 min by train from 「Sendai Station」
・Address
1-1, Ichimoriyama, Shiogama-shi, Miyagi, 〒985-8510
・Map
Official Website
http://www.shiogamacci.jp/service10.html
The event that we can enjoy with our children
5.Noshiro Takoage Tournament – Apr.22nd in 2018
source:blog.livedoor
Noshiro Takoage Tournament is the tournament competing with the design, idea, and the skill of Takoage. There are 3 type of tournament such as Odako, general, and children. On Odako tournament, we use Tako as big size as adult human. There are various and colorful Takos flying in the sky. We can see some Takos that is made by children themselves. Recommended event for family.
Especially, 「Noshiro Tako」 is must be checked. It has the unique design that the man drawn on the Tako putting out his tongue. On the Odako tournament, some groups attend with so huge Tako that needs to be carry by few people. We don’t need to pay any fee to attend this event, just make a registration on the day. Let’s make a good memory for your travel in Japan.
Schedule
・Date and time
Apr.22nd in 2018
・Schedule of each event
None.
Access & Address
・Place
Noshiro Minato Nakajima Futo
・The Closest Station’s Name, The Means of Transportation and The Time Required to Get The Destination
About 10 min by taxi from 「JR Noshiro Station」
・The Terminal Station’s Name, The Time Required From The Station to Get The Destination
About 2 hours by bus from 「Akita Station」
・Address
Shimohama, Noshiro-cho, Noshiro-shi, Akita, 〒016-0813
・Map
Price & Reservation
Free. No need to reserve.
Official Website
None
6. Soma Ichigogari - Jan. 14th ～ May. 31st in 2018
source:twitter
We can enjoy strawberry picking between January and May at Wada Kanko Ichigo Kumiai. There are 6 kinds of strawberry and it is all-you-can-eat for 30min. It’s sweet taste is highly popular and many tourists visit here. The strawberry is cultivated on high position, so it’s not get dirty on the ground and can be pick and eat directly. We don’t need to crouch to pick the strawberry. The paths are well cleaned so we can enjoy with baby car and wheelchair, and no worry about getting the shoes dirty when it rains. You will be given the plate with condensed milk on and number-written ticket when you pay entrance fee. Move to designated farm and enjoy having strawberry. You can also purchase strawberry for gift.
Schedule
・Date and time
Jan. 14th ～ May. 31st in 2018 10:00am～4:00pm
・Schedule of each event
None.
Access & Address
・Place
Wada Kanko Ichigo Kumiai
・The Closest Station’s Name, The Means of Transportation and The Time Required to Get The Destination
About 10 min by taxi from 「JR Soma Station相馬駅」
・The Terminal Station’s Name, The Time Required From The Station to Get The Destination
About 2 hours by bus or train from 「Fukushima Station」
・Address
94, 〒976-0023 Wadashimosibasaku, Soma-shi, Fukushima
・Map
Price & Reservation
Jan.3rd ～ 13th ：1,600yen
Jan.14th ～ Mar.31st： 1,500 yen
Apr. 1st ～ May. 6th ： 1,200 yen
May. 7th ～ 31st： 900 yen
Half price for younger than elementary school students. No need to reserve.
Official Website
http://blog.wadakanko-ichigo.jp/
Traditional Culture and Historical Event
7. Tendo Sakura Festival「Ningen Shogi」 - Apr. 21st ～ 22nd in 2018
Tendo Sakura Festival is representative festival of Yamagata prefecture that is held in spring season with about 2000 trees of cherry blossom. Especially, the main event - Ningen Shogi - has long history since 1956. It the event, the Bushi wearing Samurai costume pretend as chessman, and professional Shogi player fight using them. Shogi is like Japanese chess. The event is held against beautiful cherry blossom in 21st and 22nd in April. It makes you feel that you are happen to be in Sengoku era.
In addition, there are children’s Shogi tournament and we can enjoy Shogi with professional players. We can also taste Japanese sweets, Japanese dishes, and specialty dishes at some food stalls. We can enjoy whole day. Ningen Shogi can be seen only here. Let’s visit Yamagata!
Schedule
・Date and time
Apr. 21st ～ 22nd in 2018
・Schedule of each event
Access & Address
・Place
The top of Maizuru Mountain（Tendo Park）
・The Closest Station’s Name, The Means of Transportation and The Time Required to Get The Destination
About 10 by bus from 「JR Tendo Station」
（It costs 100 yen. We cannot drive to there for ourselves during the festival season because of traffic restriction）
・The Terminal Station’s Name, The Time Required From The Station to Get The Destination
About 1 hour by train from 「Yamagata Station」
・Address
Shiroyama, Tendo, Tendo-shi, Yamagata 〒994-0000
・Map
Price & Reservation
No need to reserve.。