The Kanto Matsuri (竿燈まつり, "pole lantern festival") is a Tanabata-related celebration in Akita City, held every year from August 3 to 6. The highlight of the festival is an impressive display of skill in which performers balance kanto (long bamboo poles) with arrays of paper lanterns attached to the end. The Kanto Matsuri together with Aomori's Nebuta Festival and Sendai's Tanabata makes up the three great festivals of the Tohoku Region.

The kanto poles come in different sizes with the largest measuring 12 meters, weighing 50 kilograms and carrying as many as 46 paper lanterns, lit by real candles. To the sound of drums, flutes and onlookers chanting "dokkoisho, dokkoisho", each kanto is hoisted up by a single performer who balance them on end using various techniques. The performers change every few minutes and gradually add extensions to the pole until they are at their maximum height.

The main event of the festival, the night parades, are held nightly along Kanto Odori street in the center of the city. The various performing groups, carrying over 250 kanto poles, line up on the street, and when a signal is given, the poles are all raised up at once and the performers show off their skills. The event lasts about 90 minutes, and at the end of each night there is a 15 minute session during which the audience is invited to talk to the performers, take pictures and try their hand at hoisting up a kanto.

The performing area is nearly one kilometer long, and there are plenty of places to sit on the sidewalk along the route. The ends of the closed off road offer a particularly spectacular view, but can be more crowded. Paid reserved seats are set up on the median of the road, and reservations can be made beginning a few months in advance on the official Japanese website. Naturally, it is more crowded on festival days that fall on a weekend.

The festival also has daytime events which are mainly held at Agora Plaza in front of the Seibu Department Store which are held from 10:00 to 17:00 on all days of the festival. One of the activities that visitors can participate in is lifting miniature kanto poles.

Additionally, Kanto Competitions are held during daytime on the last three days of the festival on the plaza around the Akita Museum of Art. Every kanto group fields one or two teams to compete in categories such as solo, group and performance set to music. The competitions are free to attend and no seating is provided.

Also of interest is the Kanto Museum (or Neburinagashi-kan) where you can learn about the history of the festival and try out balancing a kanto pole yourself.

Getting there and around

The Kanto Matsuri's night parades are held along Kanto Odori street, about a 15 minute walk west of Akita Station. Daytime events are held at the Agora Plaza in front of Seibu Department Store, a five minute walk from the station, while the Kanto Competitions take place next to the Akita Museum of Art, a ten minute walk from the station. The Kanto Museum is about two blocks off of Kanto Odori street, about a 15 minute walk from the station.

How to get to and around Akita

Hours and Fees

Night Parades

Hours

Admission

Daytime Kanto Competitions

Hours

Admission

Kanto Museum (Neburinagashi-kan)

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Closed

Admission

Hotels around Akita

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    • Hotel Metropolitan Akita
      Luxury
      Directly connected to JR Akita Station and featuring free WiFi access throughout the property, Hotel Metropolitan Akita offers 2 restaurants, a bar and air-conditioned accommodation. All rooms are carpeted and equipped with a flat-screen TV, a refrigerator and an electric kettle. Some also come with a seating area where guests can relax. The private bathroom comes with a bathtub, free toiletries and a hairdryer. At Akita Metropolitan Hotel, guests can arrange for a soothing massage. The 24-hour front desk offers laundry, dry cleaning and luggage storage services. A variety of cuisine featuring fresh local produces can be enjoyed at Dining Manyo. Guests can also dine at one of the restaurants in the shopping and dining arcade of JR Akita Station. Akita Akarenga Kyodokan is an 8-minute drive away, while Omoriyama Zoo is an 18-minute drive from the hotel. Senshu Park can be walked to within just 6 minutes.
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    • Akita Castle Hotel
      Luxury
      Located a 7-minute walk from JR Akita Station, Akita Castle Hotel features 4 dining options and comfortable guest rooms with free WiFi. There are a 24-hour convenience store, a nail salon and other shops available on site. Each carpeted room is fitted with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV and a fridge. An electric kettle is also provided in the room. The private bathroom comes with a bath tub and free toiletries. Akita Castle Hotel provides 24-hour front desk services and room service meals. A laundry service is available for guests’ at an extra cost. Guests can also use free luggage storage or enjoy shopping at one of the on-site stores. The hotel is a 40-minute limousine bus ride or a 30-minute drive from Akita Airport. Senshu Park is a 5-minute walk away. On-site Japanese restaurant Kurumaya serves delicately prepared seasonal dishes. Chinese meals can be enjoyed at Totenko, while guests can sip their favourite drinks at Bar Lotus on the 8th floor.
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    • Richmond Hotel Akita Ekimae
      Mid-range
      Located just a 7-minute walk from JR Akita Station, Richmond Hotel Akita Ekimae offers simple and modern guestrooms featuring free Wi-Fi and an en suite bathroom. Akita Museum of Art is also a 7-minute walk away. Each carpeted room comes with a flat-screen TV, a telephone and a fridge. Guests can make a cup of tea using an electric kettle and tea bags provided. The bathroom has a bath tub and free toiletries. Akita Ekimae Richmond Hotel offers free luggage storage services at the 24-hour front desk. Drinks vending machines and laundry facilities are available on site. Akita Airport is a 40-minute drive from the hotel. Senshu Park and Kubota Castle are located within a 10-minute walk. On-site restaurant Kagura offers a breakfast buffet featuring a variety of Japanese dishes. Other Japanese meals and local specialities are also available for lunch and dinner.
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    • Dormy Inn Akita
      Mid-range
      Dormy Inn Akita is located opposite historical Senshu Park and is a 5-minute walk from JR Akita Station. Free internet access and a public bath are provided. Rooms at Dormy Inn Akita have air conditioning, a flat-screen TV and a refrigerator. The en suite bathroom comes with a shower and toiletries. Guests can make use of the open-air public bath with natural hot spring water and the coin-operated laundry machines. Nearby attractions include Akita Museum of Art, Tazawa Lake and the Shirakami-Sanchi mountain range.
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    • Daiwa Roynet Hotel Akita
      Mid-range
      Offering massages and a Japanese-style pub, Daiwa Roynet Hotel Akita is a 14-minute walk from JR Akita Train Station. Rooms include an LCD TV and an en suite bathroom with a fog-free mirror. Free Wi-Fi and wired internet access is available at the rooms as well as the lobby. Decorated in a pleasant modern manner, each room comes with a wood desk, an air purifier/humidifier, a mini-fridge and an electric kettle. Guests can enjoy pay TV channels, and rooms have a trouser press. Laptops can be rented at the 24-hour reception. Masakichi Hirano Museum of Fine Art is a 10-minute walk away, and Port Tower Selion is a 20-minute drive. Senshu Koen Park is 650 metres away. In addition to the free-use internet PC at the lobby and the on-site coin launderette, a shared-use microwave is provided. Luggage can be stored at the reception, which also offers fax/photocopying services. Japanese Dining Korin offers a breakfast buffet featuring mostly Japanese dishes. It is also open for dinner, serving Akita's local cuisine and local sake.
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    • ANA Crowne Plaza Akita, an IHG Hotel
      Luxury
      Boasting 2 restaurants, a bar and a cafe, ANA Crowne Plaza Akita, an IHG Hotel is conveniently located a 3-minute walk from JR Akita Train Station. The simply decorated rooms offer free Wi-Fi and a flat-screen TV with pay-per-view channels. Carpeted rooms are fitted with an en suite bathroom, a desk and a refrigerator. Each feature an electric kettle, a green tea set and Yukata robes. A hairdryer, free toiletries and slippers are also available. Guests at ANA Crowne Plaza Akita, an IHG Hotel can work out at the fitness centre for free and get a soothing massage at a surcharge. A variety of international meals are served at the restaurants. The Seibu Department Store is a 3-minute walk away, while both Senshu Park and Kubota Castle is a 10-minute walk from the hotel. Omoriyama Zoo can be accessed within a 20-minute drive.
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    • Hotel KAN-RAKU Akita Kawabata
      Budget-friendly
      Situated in Akita, 1.6 km from Akita Station, Hotel KAN-RAKU Akita Kawabata features views of the city. The 2-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with a shared bathroom and free WiFi. Private parking is available on site. All rooms in the hotel are equipped with a kettle. The rooms in Hotel KAN-RAKU Akita Kawabata are fitted with a flat-screen TV and a hairdryer. The accommodation can conveniently provide information at the reception to help guests to get around the area. Omoriyama Zoo is 6.7 km from Hotel KAN-RAKU Akita Kawabata, while Omoriyama Amusement Park Anipa is 7.1 km from the property. The nearest airport is Akita Airport, 16 km from the hotel.
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    • APA Hotel Akita Senshu Koen
      Mid-range
      A 15-minute walk from JR Akita Train Station, APA Hotel Akita-Senshukoen offers simple Westerns-style accommodations with free wired internet access. Guests can enjoy video-on-demand movies on the flat-screen TV for an extra charge. Senshu Park is only a 5-minute walk away. The air-conditioned rooms feature carpeted floors, a fridge and an electric kettle with green tea bags. Guests can wear the provided Japanese Yukata robes and in-room slippers. The en suite bathroom comes with a hairdryer and toothbrush sets. Relaxing massages can be requested for an extra cost and a coin-launderette is on-site. Photocopying services and luggage storage is available at the 24-hour front desk. A trouser press can be borrowed for in-room use. Akita-Senshukoen APA Hotel is a 10-minute walk from Kawabata Street and a 35-minute drive from Akita Airport. A breakfast buffet is available at the dining room.
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    • Hotel Alpha-One Akita
      Mid-range
      Hotel Alpha-One Akita is situated in Akita, within 300 metres of Akita Station and 8.6 km of Omoriyama Zoo. With free WiFi, this 3-star hotel offers a 24-hour front desk. There is a restaurant serving Japanese cuisine, and free private parking is available. The rooms are fitted with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a fridge, a kettle, a bidet, free toiletries and a desk. Rooms include a private bathroom with a shower, a hairdryer and slippers. At the hotel the rooms come with bed linen and towels. A buffet breakfast is available each morning at Hotel Alpha-One Akita. Omoriyama Amusement Park Anipa is 9.1 km from the accommodation, while Kitaura Harbor is 48 km from the property. The nearest airport is Akita Airport, 15 km from Hotel Alpha-One Akita.
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    • Comfort Hotel Akita
      Mid-range
      A 2-minute walk from JR Akita Train Station, Comfort Hotel Akita welcomes guests with a cup of coffee, and treats them to free WiFi and a free breakfast buffet. Facilities include drinks vending machines and a launderette. Air-conditioned rooms are equipped with an LCD TV, a small fridge and an attached bathroom with toiletries. A coin-launderette is on site and photocopying services are offered at the front desk. Private parking is available on site and massages can be requested for an extra cost. A free breakfast buffet with bread is served at the lounge space. Akita Comfort Hotel is a 5-minute walk from Senshu Park and a 15-minute drive from Akita hot-spring area.
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