Romantopia Dance Contest Star Festival in Souma 2017

Romantopia Dance Contest Star Festival in Souma 2017
第17回ロマントピア"舞"コンテスト　星まつりinそうま
(Romantopia "Mai" Contest Hoshi Matsuri in Souma)

A yosakoi dance contest where the winner is determined by attendees!

Date: Sunday July 16, 2017 (Rain or Shine!)
Time: 11:00-17:00
Location: Hoshi to Mori no Romantopia Souma, Hirosaki City
弘前市星　星と森のロマントピア・そうま (map)
Admission: Free

Hirosaki Apple Blossom Festival 2017

Hirosaki Apple Blossom Festival 2017
弘前りんご花まつり (Hirosaki Ringo Hana Matsuri)

Enjoy the sight of apple blossoms blooming with snow-capped Mount Iwaki in the background.

Date: May 6-14, 2017
Time: 10:00-21:00
Location: Hirosaki Apple Park 弘前りんご公園 (map)
Admission: Free (some paid events)

Kanagi Cherry Blossom Festival 2017

Kanagi Cherry Blossom Festival 2017
金木桜まつり (Kanagi Sakura Matsuri)

Ashino Park in Kanagi Area, Goshogawara City is considered one of Japan's 100 Best Cherry Blossom Viewing Spots.

Photo Source: aptinet

Date: April 29-May 5, 2017 Time: AM～21:00
Location: Ashino Park 芦野公園 (map)
Parking: 350 car parking lot: 500yen cars; 1000yen micro buses; 2000yen large buses (seats 20+)
Admission: Free

Tsugaru Shamisen World Championships 2017

36th Annual Tsugaru Shamisen World Championships 2017
2017 第35回記念 津軽三味線世界大会 (Tsugaru-Jamisen Sekai Taikai)

A 2-day competition celebrating Aomori's traditional folk music, Tsugaru Shamisen (also known as Tsugaru-jamisen).

Date: May 3-4, 2017
Time: 10:00～ (doors open 9:00)
Location: Hirosaki Shimin Kaikan 弘前市民会館 (map)
Admission: 1-Day Ticket: 1000yen, 2-Day Ticket: 2000yen

Tsugaru City Spring Festival 2017

Tsugaru City Spring Festival 2017
第2回つがる市春まつり (Tsugaru-shi Haru Matsuri)

Enjoy the various performances and events surrounded by 1200 cherry blossom trees of different varieties in full bloom.

Date: April 22-23, 2017
Time: April 22: 12:00-19:30; April 23: 10:00-14:30
Location: Hiratakanuma Park 平滝沼公園 (map)
Admission: Free

Hirakawa Illumination Promenade 2016

Hirakawa Illumination Promenade 2016 ひらかわイルミネーションプロムナード

Five hundred meters of the street in front of Hiraka Station will be illuminated with 9,000 lights for the holidays!

Date: December 15, 2016-February 3, 2017
Time: 17:00-23:00 (December 23-25 & 31 ONLY: 17:00-01:00)
Location: The street in front of Hiraka Station (Konan Railway Konan Line)
弘南鉄道平賀駅前通り (map)
Admission: Free

Northwest Tsugaru Tradtional Folk Performing Arts Fair 2016

Northwest Tsugaru Tradtional Folk Performing Arts Fair 2016
平成28年　西北五民俗芸能フェア (Seihokugo Minzoku Geinou Fair)

An event showcasing traditional folk performing arts (songs, music, lion dance, Tsugaru shamisen, etc.) from the Northwestern Tsugaru-area of Aomori.

Date: Sunday November 20, 2016

Time: 13:00～ (Doors Open: 12:30)

Location: Furusato Koryu Kenmin Center Ortensia, Goshogawara City
ふるさと交流圏民センター オルテンシア (map)

Admission: Free

Shovel Shamisen World Cup 2016

The Tenth Schop (Shovel) Jamisen World Cup 2016
第10回津軽すこっぷ三味線世界大会 (Tsugaru Sukoppu Jamisen Sekai Taikai)
Official Website (Japanese)

Tsugaru Shamisen (aka Tsugaru Jamisen) is a version of shamisen (a Japanese three-stringed lute played using a large pick) originating in the western (Tsugaru) side of Aomori Prefecture.

"Schop Jamisen" is an amusing imitation using a shovel for an instrument and a bottle cap opener in place of the pick to mimic the sound of an actual shamisen in a performance. It represents a new twist on a traditional Japanese instrument and performing art.

(Given the amount of snow in Aomori Prefecture, the shovel is quite the appropriate choice!)

Date: Sunday, December 4, 2016
Time: 11:00-16:30 (Doors Open 10:00)
Location: Elm Mall, Elm Hall (2nd Floor), Goshogawara City
エルム街ショッピングセンター　エルムホール（２階） (map)
Admission: Free

Kuroishi Local Sake Festival

Kuroishi Local Sake Festival
黒石地酒まつり (Kuroishi Jizake Matsuri)

An event planned in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Kuroishi's sister city relationship with Miyako City, Iwate Prefecture. Try over 60 types of sake from 22 local breweries from northern Tohoku (Aomori, Akita, Iwate).

Date: Saturday October 1, 2016
Time:

• Ichijikai 1次会: 14:00-17:00
• Nijikai 2次会: 17:30-20:00

Location:

• Ichijikai 1次会: 中町こみせ通り (map)
• Nijikai 2次会: グリーンパレス松安閣 (map)

Admission:

• Ichijikai 1次会: Free (advance sale tickets available)
• Nijikai 2次会: 4,000yen (max. 250 people)

Ajigasawa Squid Curtain Festival 2016

Ajigasawa Squid Curtain Festival 2016
鰺ヶ沢イカのカーテンまつり (Ajigasawa Ika Curtain Matsuri)

This year's goal is to make a 90m curtain with 900 dried squids!

Date: Saturday September 3, 2016
Time: 9:30-16:00
Location: Special Venue across from Umi no Eki "Wando"
海の駅わんど向かい特設会場 (map)
Admission: Free (some paid events)
Advance Tickets: 1000yen (incl. 1 Squid + 7 x 100yen vouchers)

The Tsugaru Shamisen 2016

The Tsugaru Shamisen 2015　The津軽三味線2015
Website (Japanese)

An incredible performance featuring 300 shamisen players playing together, guest singers, and teodori dance performances.

Date: Saturday September 24, 2016
Time: Afternoon Performance: 14:00～ (Doors open 13:30)
        Evening Performance: 17:30～ (Doors open 17:00
Location: Hirosaki Shimin Kaikan Dai Hall 弘前市民会館大ホール (map)
Admission: S Seats: 3000yen; A Seats: 2000yen

Warasse Go! Go! Week 2016

Warasse Go! Go! Week 2016 ワ・ラッセGO!GO!ウィーク

Various events at Nebuta no Ie Warasse for Golden Week.

Date: April 29-May 8, 2016
Location: Nebuta no Ie Warasse ねぶたの家ワ・ラッセ (map)
Admission: Free (some events in paid admission area)

Aspam Spring Festival 2016

Aspam Spring Festival 2016
2016 アスパム春まつり (Aspam Haru Matsuri)

Craft festival, Aomori local product festival, curry festival, and local gourmet festival all rolled into one big event!

Date: April 29-May 5, 2016
Time: 9:00-19:00
Location: Aomori Prefecture Tourist Center Aspam
青森県観光物産館アスパム (map)
Admission: Free

Aomori Spring Festival 2016

Aomori Spring Festival 2016
あおもり春まつり

Aomori Spring Festival takes place at Gappo Park and Nogiwa Park. Enjoy various events and food under the cherry blossom trees.

Gappo Park Venue 合浦公園会場 (map)
Date: April 23-May 5, 2016
Parking: 500yen

Hirakawa City Onoe Cherry Blossom & Garden Shrub Festival & Hirafune Shigabou Festival 2016

Two festivals celebrating the natural beauty and parks of Hirakawa City.

Hirakawa City Onoe Cherry Blossom & Garden Shrub Festival 2016
平成28年　平川市おのえ花と植木まつり (Hirakawa-Shi Onoe Sakura to Ueki Matsuri)

Date: April 23-May 5, 2016
Time: 9:00-17:00 (lights until 21:00)
Location: Saruka Park 平川市猿賀公園 (map)
(Free Parking ～200 cars)
Admission: Free

Tsugaru Shamisen Japan Championship 2016

Tsugaru Shamisen Japan Championship 2016
津軽三味線日本一決定戦 (Tsugaru Jamisen Nihon Ichi Ketteisen)

A free two-day event featuring Tsugaru Shamisen players of all ages competing for the title of "Number One in Japan."
Date: May 3-4, 2016
Time: 9:30～ Location: Linkstation Hall Aomori リンクステーションホール青森 (map)
Admission: Free
Program (Tentative):
   Tuesday May 3 (Constitution Memorial Day)

• 9:30～ Venue Opens
• 9:55～17:00 Competiton
  • C Division
  • B Division
  • Senior Division
  • A Group Men's Division
  • A Group Women's Division
• 17:00-17:30 Award Ceremony

   Wednesday May 4 (Greenery Day Holiday)

• 9:30～ Venue Opens
• 10:00～16:00 Competition
  • Junior Division
  • Japan Championship Division (trick playing)
  • Group Division
    • Apple Division
    • Nebuta Division
  • Japan Championship (with vocals)
• 16:00-16:30 General Comments & Award Ceremony

Linkstation Hall Aomori リンクステーションホール青森
Tsutsumimachi, 1 Chome−4−1 (青森市堤町１丁目４)
Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture 030-0812


More Information:
Tsugaru Shamisen National Convention Website (Japanese): http://www.tsugaru-syamisen.com/japan.html

Tsugaru-Nakasato Station Festival 2016

Tsugaru-Nakasato Station Festival
津軽中里「駅ナカ」まつり (Tsugaru-Nakasato Eki "Eki Naka" Matsuri)

An event celebrating the opening of the Hokkaido Shinkansen bullet train and the start of bus service between the (Shinkansen station) Okutsugaru-Imabetsu Station and Tsugaru-Nakasato Station.

Date: Saturday March 26, 2016
Time: 10:00-15:00
Admission: Free
Location: Tsugaru Railway Line Tsugaru-Nakasato Station 津軽鉄道線　津軽中里駅 (map)

Hirosaki Apple Blossom Festival 2016

Hirosaki Apple Blossom Festival 2016
弘前りんご花まつり (Hirosaki Ringo Hana Matsuri)

Enjoy the sight of apple blossoms blooming with snow-capped Mount Iwaki in the background.

Date: May 6-15, 2016
Time: 10:00-21:00
Location: Hirosaki Apple Park 弘前りんご公園 (map)
Admission: Free (some paid events)

Tsugaru Shamisen World Championships 2016

35th Annual Tsugaru Shamisen World Championships 2016
2016 第35回記念 津軽三味線世界大会 (Tsugaru-Jamisen Sekai Taikai)

A 2-day competition celebrating Aomori's traditional folk music, Tsugaru Shamisen (also known as Tsugaru-jamisen).

Date: May 3-4, 2016
Time: 10:00～ (doors open 9:00)
Location: Hirosaki Shimin Kaikan 弘前市民会館 (map)
Admission: 1-Day Ticket: 2000yen, 2-Day Ticket: 3500yen
Schedule (Tentative):

Wednesday May 3

• ジュニアC級 Junior C-Class
• シニアC級 Senior C-Class
• 団体戦各グループ Group
• ミドルC級 Middle C-Class
• ユースC級 Youth C-Class

Thursday May 4

• 個人B級 Individual B-Class
• 唄付け伴奏 Song (Vocal) & Musical Accompaniment
• 女性A級 Women's A-Class
• 男性A級 Men's A-Class
• アトラクション "Attraction" (Guest Performance)

Hirosaki Shimin Kaikan 弘前市民会館
1-6 Shimoshiroganecho (弘前市下白銀町1-6)
Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture 036-8356


More Information:
Tsugaru Shamisen Network Japan (Japanese): http://www.21tsnj.jp/

Authentic Tsugaru Folk Song National Competition 2016

5th Annual Authentic Tsugaru Folk Song National Competition 2016
第5回本場津軽民謡全国大会 (Honba Tsugaru Minyou Zenkoku Taikai)

National Tsugaru folk song competition in Kuroishi, the birthplace of Tsugaru Jongara Bushi.

Date: Sunday May 1, 2016
Time: 9:20～ (doors open 9:00)
Location: Yokomachi Hiroba 横町広場　屋外特設ステージ (map)
Admission: Free