Akita Kantou Festival

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Near: Akita  (Event is Free)

Event Date(s): Aug. 2, 2025 • Aug. 3, 2025 • Aug. 4, 2025 • Aug. 5, 2025
(Early August each year)
Dates are subject to change without notice. Check with the official organizers before making travel arrangements.

"Kantou" means, "a bamboo pole eight meters high with many cross poles attached that have 46 paper lanterns shaped like rice bales hanging from them, and is decorated at the very top with thin shreds of paper between wooden sticks." (wow, long explanation for one word!). The Akita Kantou Festival is one of the "Big Four" northern Japan festivals (along with Nebuta in Aomori, Tanabata in Sendai and the Hanagasa in Yamagata). The festival is "praying" for (Shinto religeon) an abundant harvest of the five major grains, wheat, rice, beans, etc.  The festival's main attraction is men parading through town carrying "Kantou" to drive away evil spirits, some are huge, "O waka" are up to 60 kilos and smaller "Chu Waka".  The men don't use their hands but rather prop and balance the Kantou upon their hips, shoulders and foreheads while shouting and trying to outdo each other. Its quite a site!

The festival is said to have started around 1800 during the rule of Satake Yoshimasa of the Akita Clan. The "Main Location" is downtown Akita on "Kantou Odori", between the Sanno Jujiro Crossroads and Nichomebashi Bridge. About a 10min. walk from JR Akita Station.

Akita, Akita 010-8560 Japan

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Website: Akita Kantou Festival Homepage