Akita: Kanto Festival

The Beginning

Today begins our trip to the Tohoku region. It all started with us awkwardly taking the wrong Shinkansen. We lost our seats temporarily, but luckily the train went to the intended destination of Aomori.

Rentacar compact car. The car was square, and had features such as eco idle, which stopped the engine every time the car stopped. The engine also started quickly every time, about 0.1s. There is also a bar to show how efficient your fuel usage is.

Ringo park!

Big Apple made out of flowers on the hill.

Igamenchi (Aomori local dish) at Apple park

Apple flowers from the top!

Next stop, 秋田竿灯まつり　(Akita Kanto Festival)!

Idol group performing before the festival

Kanto dancers hold onto a 15m pole (Kanto) with one hand, or put it on their forehead. And balance it. The pole weighs 50kg and contains 46 lanterns. In total there are 230 Kanto poles.

Meanwhile on loudspeakers you can hear the chanting "Dokkoisho dokkoisho. Dokkoisho dokkoisho." All the dancers and audience are chanting too.

A dancer performing for the crowd after the festival!