Hello! We’re JR East station staff based in Akita, and today we’re excited to take you behind the scenes of one of Japan’s most iconic summer events: the Akita Kanto Festival.
More Than Just a Festival: A Year-Round Cultural Legacy
While Japan is famous for its vibrant summer matsuri (festivals), the Akita Kanto Festival stands out for its towering lantern displays and rich cultural heritage. This time, we explored the deeper side of the festival by visiting two key places where its spirit lives year-round:
- Neburi Nagashi Kan (Akita City Folk Performing Arts Heritage Centre)
- Chochin-ya Takahashi, a traditional Japanese lantern workshop
Though the Kanto Festival officially takes place once a year every August, the passion, craftsmanship, and community dedication behind it continue throughout the year. Even without the bustling crowds and night time performances, the depth of tradition and ongoing preservation efforts deeply moved us.
What Is the Akita Kanto Festival?
The Akita Kanto Festival, also known as Kanto Matsuri (竿燈まつり), is a traditional summer festival held annually from 3rd to 6th August in Akita City, Japan. Dating back to the Edo period (1603–1868), the festival is celebrated to pray for a bountiful harvest and good health for the community.
Central to the festival are the towering Kanto poles—bamboo poles decorated with rows of lanterns designed to resemble ears of rice. Skilled performers balance these poles using only their palms, foreheads, shoulders, or hips. Watching the glowing lanterns sway against the night sky is a breathtaking, magical experience that draws thousands of visitors each year.
The festival features four sizes of Kanto poles:
- Owaka (large): Up to 12 metres tall, weighing 50 kilograms, with 46 lanterns
- Chuwaka (medium)
- Kowaka (small)
- Yowaka (child-sized)
Another major highlight of the festival is the mastery of five traditional Kanto performance techniques:
- Nagashi (handing over)
- Hirate (palm)
- Hitai (forehead)
- Kata (shoulders)
- Koshi (waist)
The powerful rhythm of taiko drums and flutes (Kanto Bayashi), and the chant “Dokkoisho! Dokkoisho!” energise the crowd and performers alike. After the show, visitors can take photos with the Kanto lanterns, beat the drums, and try the balancing act themselves—making it one of Japan’s most interactive and unforgettable traditional festivals.
Daytime Highlight: Kanto Performance Competition
From 4th to 6th August, the excitement continues with the Kanto Performance Competition at Area Nakaichi Nigiwai Hiroba—a 10-minute walk from Akita Station.
This popular daytime event features top Kanto performers from across Akita competing in six categories, including individual and group performances for both adults and children. It’s an excellent opportunity to witness the artistry, balance, and precision of this traditional Japanese lantern dance up close, making it a must-see for visitors wanting to fully experience the Kanto Matsuri.
Akita Kanto Festival Daytime Competition (秋田竿燈祭り妙技会)
Date: 04–06 August annually
Time: 09:20–15:40 (04–05 August) / 09:00–15:00 (06 August)
Venue: Area Nakaichi’s Nigiwai Square (10-minute walk from JR Akita Station)
*Schedule might change depending on year.
First Stop: Neburi Nagashi Kan – Experience the Festival Year-Round
Can’t visit Akita during the official festival dates? No problem—the spirit of the Akita Kanto Festival lives on year-round at the Neburi Nagashi Kan (Akita City Folk Performing Arts Heritage Centre).
This museum showcases and preserves Akita’s folk traditions and performing arts, including everything about the Kanto Matsuri. Upon entering, we were immersed in the sights and sounds of the festival. Real Kanto poles stood proudly on display, while immersive video and audio installations recreated the vibrant festival atmosphere. It felt like stepping right into the heart of the celebration—even on a quiet day.
We even tried on traditional festival coats (Hanten) and attempted to balance the Kanto poles ourselves. It was much harder than we expected! Balancing the poles on our foreheads and hips required incredible skill and concentration. Just seconds into the experience, we gained a deep respect for the performers who make it look effortless.
Another highlight was the interactive taiko drum experience. With video guidance, we learned the rhythms of Kanto Bayashi festival music and joined in traditional chants (Hayashi Kotoba), deepening our connection to the authentic spirit of the Akita Kanto Festival.
Neburi Nagashi Kan (Akita City Folk Performing Arts Heritage Centre)
Address: 1-3-30 Omachi, Akita, 010-0921
Access: 17-minute walk or 7-minute bus ride from Akita Station (秋田駅)
Meet the Makers: Takahashi Lantern Workshop (Chochin-ya Takahashi)
Next, we visited Chochin-ya Takahashi, a family-run lantern workshop that has supported the Kanto Festival for generations.
Every year, hundreds of lanterns are handcrafted for the festival. Made from delicate washi paper and hand-painted with unique crests or motifs, each lantern embodies Akita’s cultural pride.
Lantern-Making Process:
- Design the lantern
- Build the bamboo framework
- Paste washi paper
- Hand-paint the crest or motif
- Finish and inspect
Each lantern takes a full day or more to complete, so the workshop operates year-round—even in the summer heat. During our visit, we were surprised to see a stove running in midsummer to dry the glue used in the papering process.
“We’re not just making decorations,” the craftsman shared. “We’re preserving history.”
What Surprised Us Most
We knew the Akita Kanto Festival was impressive—but we didn’t realise how much preparation it takes. From selecting the perfect bamboo to crafting lanterns and mastering performance techniques, the festival is a collective effort supported by the entire community. It’s not the work of a few individuals, but a shared tradition upheld across generations.
Why Visit Akita Outside Festival Season?
While the Akita Kanto Festival is a spectacular summer event, visiting Akita outside the festival season offers a deeper cultural experience. You can meet local artisans, witness the intricate lantern-making process, and appreciate the quiet dedication that keeps this tradition alive all year.
When August arrives, watching the glowing lanterns will feel even more special—rooted in a rich understanding of Akita’s cultural heritage.
A Light That Never Fades
Even after the festival ends, the spirit of the Akita Kanto Festival lives on. For the people of Akita, it represents more than just a summer celebration—it’s a symbol of local pride, identity, and cultural heritage.
We’re grateful to have experienced this tradition behind the scenes and invite you to discover the heart of Akita’s lantern festival for yourself.
Akita Kanto Festival
Venue: Akita City, Akita Prefecture
Dates: 3–6 August annually
Access: From Tokyo Station, take the Akita Shinkansen (Komachi) for approximately 4 hours.
*Schedule might change depending on year.
JR EAST 패스 (도호쿠 지역)
If this article has inspired you to go check out Akita Prefecture, check out the JR EAST 패스 (도호쿠 지역), an affordable pass offering unlimited rail travel on JR East lines (including bullet trains) in the area for 5 consecutive days. At only ¥30,000, it costs less than a round-trip between Tokyo and Kakunodate (~¥34,000).
You can also make seat reservations for bullet trains and some Joyful Trains online for free, up to 1 month in advance, on the JR-EAST Train Reservation.
The JR EAST PASS (Tohoku area) can be used for automatic ticket gates, and foreign passport holders living in Japan are also eligible to use this pass.
Finally, the last thing you should know about the JR EAST PASS is that if you purchase it via our website as a snack box subscriber, you’ll be able to get 15% OFF the price of your pass!
That’s right! For a limited-time-only this year, JAPAN RAIL CLUB is running a special discount campaign for all omiyage snack box subscribers! Simply purchase a 3, 6, or 12-month membership plan and you’ll be entitled to 15% OFF all purchases of the JR EAST 패스 (나가노, 니가타 지역) and JR EAST 패스 (도호쿠 지역) made on our website.
Header Image Credit: JR East
