Paper Balloon Festival 2013!!

The annual Paper Balloon Festival in the Nishiki Town, Semboku City will take place today!

It is a traditional event with over 100years of history. The Giant paper balloons with drawings of the Musha-e (picture of a historic Japanese warrior) and Bijin-ga (picture of a beautiful woman), will be released up to the night sky.

Access from Kakunodate Station:

Take a train (Akita Nairiku Jukan Tetsudo) to Kamihinokinai Station

7 minutes walk from the station

 

 

Akita Nairiku Jukan Railway Time Table

Main Stations	Kakunodate	Saimyoji	Yatsu	Matsuba	Kamihinokinai	Animatagi	Hitachinai	Aniai
(Extra Train)	14:20	14:28	14:33	14:42	14:52
	15:36	15:45	15:53	16:03	16:17	16:33	16:41	17:02
	16:25	16:34	16:39	16:49	17:07	17:23	17:30	17:51
(Extra Train)	17:10	17:19	17:27	17:37	17:51
	17:59	18:08	18:16	18:26	18:40	18:56	19:04	19:24
(Extra Train)	18:50	18:58	19:03	19:12	19:45	20:01	20:08	20:30
	20:27	20:36	20:41	20:51	21:05	21:21	21:29	21:50

Main Stations	Aniai	Hitachinai	Animatagi	Kamihinokinai	Matsuba	Yatsu	Saimyoji	Kakunodate
	16:16	16:41	16:50	17:07	17:18	17:27	17:31	17:40
	17:06	17:30	17:39	17:56	18:07	18:16	18:20	18:29
(Extra Train)				18:40	18:48	19:03	19:07	19:16
	18:39	19:04	19:13	19:29	19:41	19:50	19:54	20:03
(Extra Train)				20:18	20:29	20:41	20:45	20:55
(Extra Train)				21:05	21:14	21:21	21:25	21:33

 

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!

Fireworks at Tazawako Snow Festival 2011

When you ask us what would be the best feature of Tazawako Snow Festival, firework show is probably the first thing to come to our mind. It is designed by award-winning firework craftsmen from Omagari City, which is known as the mecca of fireworks in Japan. It seems that the cold, clear winter sky makes the fireworks even more beautiful!

Firework show followed after the exciting fire-ring show by professional performing group.

This year the fireworks was the best ever! Fish-themed fireworks were shown to celebrate the discovery of kunimasu, which is still a hot topic in Tazawako! Its beauty is really hard to capture in pictures or videos, but we hope you enjoy!