Sashimaki Mizubasho Festival 2012

The Sashimaki Mizubasho Festival is opening tomorrow until May 6th. However, we were slightly disappointed that the buds didn`t seem like they would open for yet another week.

There is still a lot of snow in Sashimaki, and we would have to wait until the snow melts so that they start opening.

Most Mizubasho have yet to open at Sashimaki moor

 From morning to late afternoon of festival days, the festival floats(yatai & Omiyage corner) are displayed the Sashimaki. The Sashimaki Mizubasho Festival is very popular event, visited by one hundred thousand people from across Japan. Don`t miss this annual Mizubasho festival!!

Mizubasho in full bloom

Venue: Sashimaki, Tazawako
Period: April 14th(Sat.)-May 6th(Sun)
Admission: free
Access:

DRIVE- Take a route 46 in between Tazawako and Kakunodate station

         (10mins from Tazawako, 20 min from Kakunodate)

BUS - Take a loal bus(Ugokotsu Bus) bound for Kakunodate (Obonai Line),

  get off at Sashimaki-eki-mae bus stop, 15 min by walk, you will see Mizubasho!

JR TRAINS - Take a local train(JR Tazawako Line) to Sashimaki station;

   All "KOMACHI"trains do not make stop at Sahimaki Station on the Akita Shinkansen.

More Information:

Tazawako Tourist Information Center FOLAKE

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

Sashimaki Mizubasho 2011 (Access/ Food / Souvenirs)

Sashimaki Mizubasho Festival 2011

has started on April 16th and continues till May 5th.

Click Here to Read More on Mizubasho Festival 

Access:

DRIVE – Route 46 in between Tazawako and Kakunodate Station. If you are driving eastbound from Kakunodate Area, the colony will be found on your right hand side before JR Sashimaki Station. Parking capacity is 70 cars and free of charge.

WALK -- 15 minutes walk from the nearby JR Sashimaki Station. When you exit the station, make an immediate left. Just follow the event signs and continue walking on the paved way. You may find some wild cherry blossoms and Mizubasho flowers as well, but  you are not there yet; continue until you get to the event site.

BUS – The bus lines connect JR Stations (Tazawako, Sashimaki, and Kakunodate). See the time-table below (left corner) on the flyer.

JR TRAINS – Take a local train on JR Tazawako Line; Shinkansen Express do not make a stop at Sashimaki Station. See the time-table below.

 

Local Food / Souvenirs:

Traditional Cuisine – Yama-no-imo Nabe (Hot Pot with balls of grated yam), Miso-Tanpo, Iwana (Japanese Char), Tama-Konnyaku, Oden, etc.

Other Local Specialties – Pickled Vegetables (Iburi-gakko, Eggplants, etc), Fresh Sansai (Wild Delicacies), Home-baked Oyaki (rice cake), Buckwheat Flour, Rice, Snacks, and Sweets, etc.

Other Souvenirs-- Iwana-sushi (Pressed Sushi with Japanese Char), Dorei (Pained Clay Bells), Liquors, Woodcrafts Goods, Tazawako Beer (Bottled Craft Beer), ORAE's Sausage with Alpine Leek, Nijinobuta Sausages and Pork on skewers, Rice-flour Taiyaki (fish-shaped pancake with sweet bean paste inside),Tagosaku Senbei, etc.

(Clockwise) Oyaki, ORAE's Sausages, Snacks,Yama-no-imo Nabe, Rice-flour Taiyaki,

Tazawako Beer (Sakura-kobo Beer), Miso-Tanpo, Woodcrafts, Dorei (Clay Bells).

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

Guided Bus Tour to See 3 Kinds of Flowers in Spring!

Hanakiko Bus （花紀行バス） is a guided tour bus which takes you to three different flower viewing sites in Semboku City.

The bus will pick you up from the nearest bus stop to your hotel in Nyuto Onsen area and Tazawako-kogen plateau area in the morning. It will take you to see three different kinds of flowers: Mizubasho (Asian skunk cabbage) field in Sashimaki, cherry blossoms in Kakunodate area, and Katakuri (dogtooth violet) field in Nishiki area.

 

The bus will go around Lake Tazawa and make a brief stop at Katajiri area, where you can see the golden Statue of Tatsuko. It will take you right back to your nearest bus stop around 17:00 p.m. Time varies depending on your bus stop.

The tour is scheduled from April 26th to May 2nd, 2011. Price per adult is 4,000 yen and 2,000 yen per child. The maximum number of passengers is 42 people. The lunch is not included, but you will have a plenty of time to try various foods near the viewing site in Kakunodate area. The guide is available only in Japanese.

The reservation is required before 5:30p.m. on one day before your schedule. If there is no reservation before 5 days, the tour will be cancelled.

For More Information and Reservation:

Ugo-kotsu 0187-32-4155 (Open 9:00-16:30)

Katakuri in Nishiki Area

Cherry Blossoms in Kakunodate Area

Mizubasho in Sashimaki Area

Flower Festivals Postponed!

The temperature has been so unexpectedly low this year. The blooming date of cherry blossoms in Kakunodate has been postponed more than once. As of today, the cherry blossoms in Kakundate is expected to be in bloom from the 27th and enjoyed through May 9th or so.

The blossoms are said to last long when the temperature remains low during the germination. This has made the flower festivals in Semboku City last longer too!

New Festival End Dates:

Kakunodate Sakura (Cherry Blossom) Festival --- Though May 9th
Sashimaki Mizubasho (Skuk Cabbages) Colony Festival --- Through May 5th

Nishiki Katakuri (Dogtooth Violet) Colony Festival --- Through May 5th

The end days are being pushed forward, which means you get to enjoy the food stall and performances longer! In fact, the cold weather doesn’t seem to cause only troubles --- except for the extra sweater you need to carry--- the blossoms are enjoyed right in the middle of Golden Week, Japanese week-long holidays!

The weather changes so frequently that you never know what kind of weather you get, so make sure you bring an extra sweater with you!

The pictures below are some quick view on the festival in Sashimaki!

Here we go again! Mizubasho is in full bloom.

The food stand selling various pickled vegetables and wild delicacies! The o-bachan was cute :)

Stage performance of traditional music!

Generating Heat in Sashimaki Wetland !?

Did you know Zazenso generate heat up to 25 degree in Celsius?

Zazenso

According to some sources like Wikipedia and other Japanese websites, Zazenso (Eastern Skunk Cabbage) and other skunk cabbages are able to generate temperature of up to 35 degree. This results in increasing rate of pollination by spreading the pungent odor and attracting fries! The heat mechanism of Zazenso is caused by an unknown reason. Isn’t that interesting?

Zazenso

I feel awkward every time I call both Mizubasho and Zazenso "Skunk Cabbages", because the kinds familiar to us do not stink at all! It is enjoyed by many people here because the white and purple contrast vividly against the dull color of soil after the snow.

Mizubasho

Mizubasho (Japanese Skunk Cabbage) in Sashimaki Mizubasho Colony is in full bloom. It is expected to last until the end of Golden Week (May 5th). This is a place where you can see not only the wetland plants like skunk cabbages, but also Katakuri, Dogtooth Violets. Although only a few Katakuri flowers are found here and there in Sashimaki Wetland, they still appear vivid and adorable with other plants. If you want to see a purple field of dogtooth violets, try Nishiki Katakuri Colony! (Not in bloom until the end of April.)

Not many of them, but surely enough! Pretty Kikuzaki-Ichige (Anemone pseudoaltaica) is easily spotted out.

Japanese Alder Trees seems to be standing as if it's protecting the flowers on the ground.

Mt. Komagatake seen from Sashimaki Area

The wetland plants are spread in the forest of Japanese Alder Trees (Han-No-Ki) in an area as large as 10ha. There are also some other kinds of plants growing wild in this area. It takes about 20 to 30 minutes to walk around.

How to Access and other information on Sashimaki Mizubasho Colony 

Access to see Mizubasho and Katakuri

Here are some access information to see Mizubasho in Sashimaki Area and Katakuri in Nishiki!

Sashimaki Mizubasho Colony (Updates)

 Sashimaki's Mizubasho is showing more and more flowers. Some sunnier parts of the area, closer to the Route 46 seems like in full bloom today. The plants spread as large as 3ha, and there are still some areas that are just showing the little tips of flowers. The festival is going to last until May 4th. If you are close, please do stop by!

Sashimaki Mizubasho Colony Update!

The Mizubasho Festival in Sashimaki is opening tomorrow until May 4th. It was such a lovely weather today, so we went to check out how much they have grown. Mizubasho, Japanese Skunk Cabbage (no stink!) are showing more flowers now!
This is going to be the merriest festival in Sashimaki Area! The locals have been preparing prefab tents for warm and quick food and souvenirs.

More and more showing...

Young Mizubasho

Zazenso ("Plant of Meditation") Does it look like a monk in meditation? I kinda get it now..

Souvenirs and Yama-No-Imo Nabe is going to be served here.

The toilets are available.

Souvenirs being prepared for sale.

Sashimaki Mizubasho Colony

We heard the sign of spring has finally popped out in Sashimaki Mizubasho Colony.. so we went.

Mizubasho (Lysichiton camtschatcence), known as skunk cabbage in the Western countries, is a plant found in wet lands and swamps in cool mountain areas. How interesting North American species have yellow spathe, the hood-like bract which contains the flowers, and emit a distinct odor, while our Asian skunk cabbage blossom in white and does not smell bad at all!

Mizubahsho, the first one this year.

The wet land of Sashimaki. Still only a few of them are out. Soon the whole area will be covered with white flowers here..

Take the path--- watch out! It's slippery.

Nothing is more comforting than the sound of babbling stream...

Mizubasho has been mentioned in the literature for a few centuries as a plant found in land abundant in water (mizu), resembling Japanese fiber banana (basho). Although you may think it can be found anywhere in Japan for it is known for the richness and variety of water sources, Mizubasho is hardly found in warm and low-altitude land in which many of the urban cities are situated. It can be found only in places with a rare climate condition. That is why many people take a trip to see this precious plant.

Some early birds catching spring..

Still so much snow to melt.

The creek carrying a body of fresh snow-melted water. It was so clear and stinging cold!

Zazenso, Eastern Skunk Cabbage, is named after its resemblance of a monk in meditation (zazen).

You will see it pops out before too long..

Sashimaki Area is one of those few places in Japan where Mizubasho can be observed as in colony. The uniqueness of the Sashimaki Mizubasho Colony is that it spreads over just along the roadside of route 46, so you don’t have to go off the road to take a glimpse of the precious plant.

Obviously, we are not the only ones longing for the springtime. Asian black bears, also known as moon bears that inhibit in this area, are said to eat the flowers and leaves to discharge the body waste after the hibernation. It contains oxalicacid, toxic to human beings, but it is perhaps a favorite of the wild animals.
Mizubasho in Sashimaki are going to be in bloom as soon as the snow melts away just before the cherry blossoms. For many Japanese, cherry blossoms are the sign of Spring; but for us, Mizubasho is--- perhaps, it is a sign of the end of long cold winter.

 Festival  is held from April 17th- May 4th, 2010.

To access: 

   By car: Take route 46 in between Tazawako and Kakunodate Area.

                 (10 mins from Tazawako, 20 min. from Kakundate)

   By train: Take JR Sashimaki Station. 15mins. walk along the sidewalk.

   By bus: Take Ugokotsu Bus bound for Akita City (Kyuko Akita Line),

                  get off at “Sashimaki-eki-mae”, and take walk 15 mins.

Other findings: A little head of Fukinoto (butterbur sprout).

''The mountain straight ahead is Mount Akita Komagatake", Takkochan says in the yellow board.