See the Lantern Castle in the Sky! Noshiro Tanabata Festival, Akita

Noshiro Tanabata Festival: Lantern Castle in the Sky

Noshiro, a city in Akita, will be holding its historical Tanabata Festival: Lantern Castle in the Sky on August 2 - 3 this year. Showcasing fantastic traditional festival displays and music, the event is set to light up the summer sky with its one-of-a-kind and rare lanterns.

Marching in the parade are Japan's two largest castle lanterns, Karoku and Aiki, which stand up to 17.6 m and 24.1 m tall! Each year these gigantic lanterns parade through the streets of Noshiro to the beat of drums and whistles of flutes, captivating all those who live in this city or visit it.

The Lantern Castle in the Sky is one of Akita's historical traditions, dating back to the Edo period (1603-1868).

The festival was downsized after the second world war due to the construction of telephone lines in the city, halting the gigantic castle lanterns from parading the streets. However, the city has installed underground cables in recent years and has been thus able to claim back its thrilling tradition since 2013.

High-spirited residents celebrate their fascinating culture, encouraging the younger generation to become involved with this amazing festival. Passing on the tradition from generation to generation, junior high school students are invited to help operate the floats and create their own. Noshiro’s Tanabata is an outstanding example of how Japan values its regional traditional festivals and proudly incorporates historical traditions into modern-day life.

Why not visit the beautiful Noshiro City this summer, and enjoy the region's summer festival along with the surrounding nature such as the magnificent Shirakami mountains, a world natural heritage site?

The famous Akita Kanto Festival with its giant displays of lanterns is also held August 3 - 6 in the nearby Akita City. Consider enjoying them both!

Noshiro Tanabata Festival: Lantern Castle in the Sky

Dates: August 2 - 3, 2023
Hours: 18:30 - 21:00
Venue: Akita, Noshiro City, National Route 101, City Hall Entrance Intersection to Torimachi Intersection
Official website: https://noshirotanabata.com/

Information and photo source: atpress

Written by Kate_T