Butterbur Sprout Festival at a Co-op Farmer's Market

Murakko Bussankan （むらっこ物産館）is a cooperative product center in Nishiki Town. After the winter closure from November till April, the store is finally open offering you many different kinds of seasonal vegetables and traditional crafts hand-made by the local villagers.

 

Murakko Bussankan

Murakko Bussankan welcomes visitors in festival on the 3rd Sundays of every month. In April, it is called “Bakkya Matsuri,” or butterbur sprout festival. Butterbur sprout is one of the wild delicacies (“sansai”) enjoyed in late April. It is called “fukinoto” in common Japanese but “bakkya” in Akita dialect. The popular ingredient is served deep-fried, croquette, and in sweetened miso sauce.

 

The store will have different kinds of dishes like mentioned above, as well as some warm meals for cheap prices. This is a perfect stop-over to taste how the authentic homey meals taste like, since it is cooked by local mothers! (More)

Butterbur sprouts are enjoyed deepfried, croquette, and sauteed in sweet miso sauce.

What is Sansai?

“Sansai” literally translates to “mountain vegetables.” They are as “wild” as they could be (yes, that means free of pesticides and fertilizers) and also delicious as it is enjoyed over many generations. Sansai could be any plants like leaves, sprouts, mushrooms, etc.

 

The sansai is collected and prepared by the local villagers, which are the specialists of sansai in this area. You do not want to go find the wild delicacies in the mountains yourself, since there are many kinds that resembles and could deceive you--- you must make sure to have only the edible ones. The preparation is another trouble: Some sansais take complicated process before they become palatable. No wonder why they are sold expensively in Tokyo area.

So here is your perfect chance! Just stop by at Murakko Bussankan to taste the seasonal sansai at the freshest and bestest time of the year!

Bakkya Matsuri at Murakko Bussankan

11a.m. to 15 p.m. Sunday, April 17th, 2011.

Murakko Bussankan

Business Open from 9 a.m. to 17 p.m.
TEL 0187-47-2205

Dogtooth Violet Colony in Nishiki Area (2011 Update)

Katakuri (Dogtooth Violet) is a species of lily, which can be seen in colonies over a large area amongst a chestnut grove in Nishiki Area. What makes them so unique is the area as large as 20 hectare (49 acre), one of the largest colonies of Japan!

Nishiki town is largely –as much as 90%-- covered by mountains and forests, whose main industries are forestry, agriculture, and eco-tourism.

Katakuri, Dogtooth Violet (Photo/ JR Tazawako Station)

Largest Katakuri colony of Japan located in Nishiki Town (Photo/Semboku City)

Along with cherry blossoms and mizubasho, Katakuri colony in Nishiki area is a popular flower viewing spot in Semboku City. The area is a private chestnut orchard but it will be open to the public during the flower festival. There are some paved walkways that takes you around the park. Have your walking shoes ready!  (Related Posts from 2010) 

Katakuri is expected to bloom from April 15th to May 3rd, 2011. Take Nairiku Jukan Railway and off at Yatsu Station (八津駅）. The entrance to the Katakuri area is within walking distance!

Sashimaki Mizubasho Festival 2011 (Dates Announed)

Sashimaki Mizubasho Festival 2011

Saturday April 16th - Thursday May 5th, 2011

A colony of Mizubasho is spread as large as 3 hectares (about 7 acres) and coexisting with other rare plants like zazenso amongst an alder forest. The easy accessibility makes Sashimaki’s Mizubasho area so unique—it is spread along national route 46, so you can see it from the windows from your vehicle. The beautiful sight makes many drivers to stop by.

Mizubasho and zazenso both belong to the same species called “skunk cabbages” in English; yet, neither of them do not emit unpleasant odor at all! To tell the differences between the two “skunk cabbages,” it is quite simple: Mizubasho (Japanese Skunk Cabbage) have white flowers and exist abundantly, while zazenso (Asian Skunk Cabbage) has elegant purple and can be found only a few.

A swamp where a clolony of mizubasho can be found. (Photo/Semboku City)

Zazenso means "meditation-plant"-- do you see the monk in meditation right there?

The place is visited by approximately 100,000 visitors during the festival weeks. Tents and prefab will be set up to offer you some local delicacies. On weekends, local traditional dance group come in to perform at the stage. (Read posts from last year.)

More Info:

FOLAKE (Tazawako Tourist Information Center)

TEL 0187-43-2111 or folake@tazawako.org

Sakura Viewing Spots in Semboku City (2011 Update)

In Semboku City, cherry blossoms will be seen earliest in Kakunodate Town. Then the sakura-zensen (“cherry blossoms front”) slowly moves up through Tazawako area according to the higher elevation and temperature: Lake Tazawa, Tazawako Kogen (plateau), then it finally reaches to Nyuto Onsen area in mid-May.

Kakunodate Town, for example, has been known as one of the most beautiful viewing spots of Japan. This small town, whose population is only about 14,000, is flooded with approximately 1,000,000 tourists only during the sakura weeks from late April to the first week of May.

The visitors look forward to visit two quintessential viewing spots of Kakunodate: Sakura tunnels on the bank of the Hinokinai River and the historical landscape scattered with centuries-old cherry blossoms trees.

Sakura Tunnel along the Hinokinai River

Night Viewing of Sakura amongst the Samurai Houses

The "sakura front" passes through the vast rice paddies of Jindai and Obonai area; then, it reaches to the lake and plateau. Although the viewing spots in Tazawako Area seems rather humble compare to the touristic Kakundoate area, there are many hidden viewing spots where you will most likely enjoy the fresh breeze and quietness in the air!

More info on the approximate viewing dates

are HERE.

より大きな地図で Cherry Blossom Viewpoint in Semboku City を表示

Also, JNTO (Japan National Tourism Organization) has some more helpful information in regard to the Bloom of Cherry Blossoms across the nation. You can see a map and updated approximate blooming dates in the major cities.

Ganbaro Tohoku! Kakunodate's Cherry Blossoms

Besides the beauty of historic townscape, Kakunodate town is known for two seasonal festivals: Cherry blossom festival in spring and Yama Festival in early autumn.

Cherry Blossoms on Bukeyashiki-dori in April-May



Yama Festival in September



Now is our time of perseverance amid the 3.11 earthquake aftermath. Many businesses relating to the tourism industry are forced to downsizing the operation or voluntarily refraining from normal promotional campaign. The industry largely affected by the decreased number of travelers and consumers who are steered away from Tohoku area.  (Read related post.)

This year, Kakunodate’s “Cherry Blossoms Festival” has been renamed as “Ganbaro Tohoku: Kakundoate’s Cherry Blossom”, in which some exuberant festivity will be downsized, but visitors will be welcomed with some illuminations and food stands at one of the 100 most beautiful sakura viewing spots of Japan!

Ganbaro Tohoku! Kakunodate’s Cherry Blossoms

Friday, April 22^nd – Thursday, May 5^th, 2011.

Illumination of Cherry Blossom Trees 

Someiyoshino Trees along the Hinokinai River --- From Sunset to 22 p.m.

Shidarezakura Trees on Bukeyashiki-dori --- From 18:30 – 22:00 p.m.

Hokosha Tengoku ("Pedestrian's Heaven")

A street is closed for street vendors and food tents

April 23, 24, 29, May 1-4.

More Info: Kakunodate Tourist Association