Major Event and Festivals Held in the City of Kushiro

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Amberlynn Baker
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1 Major Event and Festivals Held in the City of Kushiro Note: Detailed information for each event is published in the latest Koho Kushiro (In Japanese Only). Spring May (latter part): Kushiro Tulip and Flower Fair (Kushiro City) Venue: Tsurugadai Park, Kushiro CIty Approximately 14,000 tulips bloom beautifully signaling the true arrival of spring to the city. The town s people work cooperatively to plant the bulbs and maintain the flower beds. June (middle part): Northern Venus Japanese Butterbur Festival (Onbetsu Town) Venue: Pashikuru Event Site, Onbetsu Town, Kushiro CIty Events such as the Japanese Butterbur Festival s 1000 dancers, beachside treasure hunting, and performances of traditional entertainment are held. The shape of Onbetsu Town is said to resemble Venus de Milo (Classical Greek sculpture of Aphrodite) and the town s specialty product is the Japanese Butterbur, thus the festival was named the Northern Venus Japanese Butterbur Festival

Summer Mid-July to the first part of August: Kushiro Fog Festival (Kushiro City) Venue: Garden in front of the Tourism and International Exchange Center, Kushiro City Fog often appears in Kushiro

July (Last Sunday): Kushiro Shitsugen Marathon (Kushiro City) Venue: Start is located at the Kushiro City Citizens Athletic Field Japan s largest citizen s marathon run through a wetland environment

2 Summer Mid-July to the first part of August: Kushiro Fog Festival (Kushiro City) Venue: Garden in front of the Tourism and International Exchange Center, Kushiro City Fog often appears in Kushiro City in the summer. This festival was started as a way to enjoy and celebrate the fog that visits the city. At dynamic laser light show set to music is part of the festivities. July (Last Sunday): Kushiro Shitsugen Marathon (Kushiro City) Venue: Start is located at the Kushiro City Citizens Athletic Field Japan s largest citizen s marathon run through a wetland environment (Kushiro Shitsugen). There is a course which elementary school students through to adults can enjoy. August (First weekend): Kushiro Port Festival Kita Odori Street Pedestrian Mall (Kushiro City) Venue: Kita Odori Street, Kushiro Harbor Begun in 1948, this is Kushiro City s largest festival. On the first evening of the festival the Big Catch Musical Parade, in which fishing boat-shaped floats light up with Japanese paper lanterns parade through the street to pray for a big catch, is held. Additionally, many other events are held including the Citizens Dance Parade participated in by ordinary citizens and groups, and the Music Parade comprised of music clubs from every area school.

3 August (Middle): Sen-sin Fireworks Festival (Kushiro City) Venue: Shinkushirokawa Riverside One of Kushiro s two big fireworks festivals. The Niagara Falls firework reflected on to the surface of the Shin-kushiro River is a must see. August 19: Citizens of Kushiro Northern Sea Lantern Festival Dance (Kushiro City) Venue: Kita Odori Street Contests are held for hand dancing, fancy dress, and freestyle dance, and paper-covered wooden stands housing lamps are paraded down Kita Odori Street.

4 Fall September (first part): Kushiro Tairyoh Donpaku (Kushiro City) Venue: Garden in front of the Tourism and International Exchange Center, Kushiro City This festival is named after two sounds: don which is associated with exploding fireworks, and paku which represents lips smacking together as people eat delicious culinary treats at the various food stalls that have been set up. Among fireworks festival in Hokkaido, this festival launches the largest balled firework (90cm) which spreads out to 600 meters in diameter lighting up the night sky. During the festival various events are held throughout the city center and in the harbor area. First part of September to the latter part of October: Iomante Fire Festival Venue: Lake Akan Ainu Kotan Meeting Site (Akan) A traditional village where the spirit of the Ainu dwells. You can see traditional dancing and offerings which pass on the culture, spiritual features and nature of Akan October 8 to 10: MARIMO Festival (Akan) Venue: Lake Akan Gan Enchi,Ainu Kotan In addition to traditional Ainu ceremonies, there are other events for your enjoyment such as the bee balm parade and Marimo dance.

5 Winter January to the latter part of March: Ice Land Akan Festival on the ice covering Lake Akan Venue: The ice covering Lake Akan Visitors can enjoy snowmobiles, ice buggies banana boats, ice skating, cross-country skiing, and fishing for Japanese pond smelt. During the festival evening events such as fireworks festivals are also held. First part of February: Kushiro Winter Festival (Kushiro City) Venue: Tourism and International Exchange Center, Kushiro City Various ice and snow sculptures and slides made from ice wait to greet children and all other visitors. A giant ice maze is constructed beside Kushiro Fisherman s Warf MOO and entry is free of charge for all. February (Middle): Northern Venus Winter Festiva (Onbetsu Town) Venue: Special site on the grounds of Kaneya Steel Works, Onbetsu Town, Kushiro City Various winter-themed events are held such as slides made from snow and the Human Bamba on Ice (an obstacle course on the ice in which teams compete). Bamba is word to describe horses used for farming from Hokkaido.

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