winter festivals(1)

Winter festivals are being held in snowy regions.

Zao Soft Rime Festival 2013(蔵王樹氷まつり2013)
late Jan.-early Feb.
Yamagata Zao hot spring ski resort, Yamagata Prefecture

The festival ended, but Zao Soft Rime Light-up is taking place until March 3.



                             












Soft rime at the Mount Hakkouda(八甲田山), Aomori Prefecutre

Skiers can enjoy soft rime, and overlook the sea from mountain top. Hakkoda ski resort is open from late November to mid May.


Photo by Yokaphoto.net

 Soft rime at Mount Hiko (英彦山, Hiko-san), Fukuoka and Oita Prefectures






Photo by Yokaphoto.net

Soft rime at Mount Daisen(大山), Tottori Prefecture



Photo by Yokaphoto.net

Soft rime at Mount kuju(九重山), Oita Prefecture

                               

Aomori Snow Light Festival(あおもり雪灯りまつり, Aomori Yukiakari Matsuri)
Jan.25-27
Aomori Station Park, Aomori Prefecture










The Lake Towada Winter Story(十和田湖冬物語)
Feb.1-24
Lake Towada, Aomori Prefecture
photos at  http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2012/02/soft-rime-and-snow-festivals.html

The Iwate Snow Festival(いわて雪まつり)
Feb.1-11
Koiwai Farm Makibaen, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture

Aomori Winter Festival(青森冬まつり)
Feb.2-11
Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture












The 64rd Sapporo Snow Festival(第64回さっぽろ雪まつり)
Feb.5-11
Sapporo City, Hokkaido
http://www.snowfes.com/english/index.html
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2012/02/63rd-sapporo-snow-festival.html

Asahikawa Winter Festival(旭川冬まつり)
Feb.6-11
Asahikawa City, Hokkaido
http://www.city.asahikawa.hokkaido.jp/files/kankou/awf/



Asahikawa Winter Festival

photo by 北海道無料写真素材集 Do Photo

International Snow Sculpting Competition JAPAN CUP
photo by 北海道無料写真素材集 Do Photo

The 13th International Snow Sculpting Competition JAPAN CUP 2013 in NAYORO
Feb.7-11
Nayoro City, Hokkaido



aurora in Nayoro
photo by 北海道無料写真素材集 Do Photo

Auroras are seen only once every 10 years or so in Nayoro.

















Namahage Sedo Festival(なまはげ柴灯まつり)
Feb.8-10
Shinzan Jinja Shrine(真山神社), Oga City, Akita Prefecture

The festival is a combination of shrine ritual, Sedo festival and namahage.
(information about namahage at http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2011/12/scenes-on-new-years-eve.html)



Hirosaki Castle Snow Lantern Festival(弘前城雪燈籠まつり)
Feb.8-11
Hirosaki Castle, Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture
photos at http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2012/02/soft-rime-and-snow-festivals.html



Aizu Art Candle Festival (会津絵ろうそくまつり)
Feb.8-11
Tsurugashiro Castle & Oyakuen Garden, Aizu Wakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture


和蝋燭　japanese candle by puffyjet /flickr

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Morioka Snow Lights Festival(もりおか雪あかり, Morioka Yukiakari)
Feb.8-10
Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture













photo by 北海道無料写真素材集 Do Photo

The Otaru Snow Light Path Festival (小樽雪あかりの路, Otaru Yuki Akari no Michi)
Feb.8-17
Otaru City, Hokkaido













Inukko Matsuri(犬っこまつり, Little Dog Festival)
Feb.9-10
Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture

The festival dates back 400 years.
more information about this at http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2012/02/kamakura-and-bonden.html


Tadami Furusato(Hometown) no Snow Festival(只見ふるさとの雪まつり)
Feb.9-10
Tadami-mahi, Fukushima Prefecture


The 63th Minami Uonuma Snow Festival
Feb.9-10
Minami Uonuma City, Niigata Prefecture

The Uesugi Snow Lantern Festival(上杉雪灯篭まつり)
Feb.9-10
Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture















Obanazawa Snow Festival(尾花沢雪まつり)
Feb.9-10
Obanazawa City, Yamagata Prefecture


Iiyama Snow Festival(いいやま雪まつり)
Feb.9-10
Iiyama City, Nagano Prefecture

photo by 北海道無料写真素材集 Do Photo

Snow Lights 2013(雪あかり2013)
Feb.9-10
Higashikagura-cho, Hokkaido













Mahoroba Winter Peony Festival(まほろば冬咲きぼたんまつり)
Feb.9-17
Takahata-machi, Yamagata Prefecture
(more infomation about winter peony at http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2012/01/winter-peonies.html)


Mahoroba Winter Peony Festival

Snow Lights 2013 in Nishiwaga(雪あかり2013inにしわが)
Feb.10
Nishiwaga-machi, Iwate Prefecture










Paper Baloon Festival of Kamihinokinai(上桧木内の紙風船上げ)
Feb.10
Kamihinokinai, Nishiki-cho, Senboku City, Akita Prefecture

Hiranai Enburi(平内えんぶり)
Feb.10
Hiranai, Hashikami-cho, Aomori Prefecture
(more information about enburi at http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2011/02/enburi-festival-at-hachinohe.html)

Kasedori(カセ鳥)
Feb.11
Kaminoyama City, Yamagata Prefecture

It is said Kasedori started as an event to pray for business prosperity and fire prevention.  It's a strange event with a history of over 350 years.





Strange Festival "Kasedori" 2009 by f_a_r_e_w_e_l_l /flickr

Kase was derived from "kasegi(稼ぎ, earning money)" or " Kasei(火勢, the force of a fire)". Dori means a bird.

Young people wearing straw coat called Kendai parade through the streets and dance here and there, saying "Kat kat kar!" Town people pour water over them to pray for business prosperity and fire prevention.


Festival "Kasedori" 2009 by  f_a_r_e_w_e_l_l /flickr

The event was discontinued in 1896, and it was revived in 1959.