Niogataki Waterfall Ice Festival 2017

Niogataki Waterfall Ice Festival 2017
乳穂ヶ滝氷祭 (Niogakati Koori Matsuri)

The 33m Niogataka Waterfall has frozen over in the winter since the olden days. The size and shape of the frozen falls is said to reflect whether the year's harvest will be rich or poor. The festival features Shinto prayers and ritual divinations, live performances, and more.

*Depending on weather conditions, the falls might not be frozen, so please check/inquire ahead of time if necessary.*

(Photo Source: aptinet)

Date: Sunday February 19, 2017
Time: 11:00-14:00
Location: Niogataki Waterfall 乳穂ヶ滝 (map)
Admission: Free

Towada Walking 2016

Towada Walking 2016 十和田ウォーク

Part of the Towada Spring Festival 2016 Taisosai Festival (Celebration of the Creation of the Inaoi Canal). Enjoy a walking tour of various spots related to the creation of the Inaoi Canal--a vital development for the formation of modern Towada City.

Date: Tuesday May 3, 2016
Time: 8:30～ (Registration from 7:30)
Registration/Meeting Location: Sakura Hiroba 桜の広場  (map)
(Participants will go by bus from the meeting location to the start point of each course)
Cost: 2000yen (1000yen for elementary students & younger)
(Pay at registration on the day-of. Includes: Participation Certificate & Present, Toutetsu Eki Soba, Bus Costs, Insurance)

Japanese Sword Tour in Aomori

Japanese Sword Tour in Aomori
刀剣ツアーin青森　(Touken Tour in Aomori)

Date: February 27-28, 2016
Time: February 27: 12:30-16:40, February 28: 8:30-13:45
Location: Hirosaki City & Inakadate Village, Aomori Prefecture
Cost: 9800yen (accommodations included)
(7800yen without accommodations)
Minimum/Maximum Participants: Min. 10 participants, Max. 20 participants
(In the case of more applicants than available spaces, participants will be decided by random lottery)
Schedule:

Saturday February 27

• 12:30 Meet at Hirosaki Station Joto Exit (Board Bus)
• 13:00-16:00 Katana no Iori (Swordsmith Nakahata)
• Japanese Sword Appreciation 日本刀鑑賞
• Sword Maintenance 手入れ体験
• Sword Making Process 作業工程見学
• Sword Forging 鍛造見学
• 16:30 Return to Hirosaki Station Joto Exit
• 16:40 Hirosaki Kokusai Hotel
• (Various option tours available for after hotel check-in time, e.g. evening city tour, shopping tour, etc.)

Sunday February 28

• 8:30 Hirosaki Station Joto Exit (Board Bus)
• 8:40 Hirosaki Kokusai Hotel
• 9:00-12:00 Hirosaki Clan Bokudenryuu School of Swordsmanship Experience
• Post-Relocation Hirosaki Castle Tour
• Bokudenryuu School of Swordsmanship Experience (Samurai Etiquette, Swordplay)
• 12:30-13:30 Lunch in Central Hirosaki
• 13:45 Farewells at Hirosaki Station Joto Exit

Registration Period:

Out-of-Prefecture-Visitor Early Registration: 
Monday January 18-Friday January 22, 2016
(Successful applicants will be notified in the evening on January 22)

Open Registration (if spaces available):Monday January 25-February 12, 2016
(Successful applicants will be notified in the evening on February 12)

Registration Method:
Phone: 0172-55-0268
Fax: 0172-55-0252 (Fax Form PDF - see sample with English below)

Japanese Email Form: http://www.tabisuke-hirosaki.jp/entry.html (see sample with English below)



English Email Form: http://www.tabisuke-hirosaki.jp/english/mail/
Include the tour name "Touken Tour in Aomori" (刀剣ツアーin青森), number of people, their ages/genders, your address and phone number, and any other information (request for non-smoking room, no need for accommodations, etc.) in the message.

Payment Information:
Payment will be collected at the start of the tour (February 27).
Cancellation fees are as follows:

• 21 Days or More Before Departure Date: No Charge
• 8-20 Days Before Departure Date: 20% of Tour Cost
• 2-7 Days Before Departure Date: 30% of Tour Cost
• Day Before Departure Date: 40% of Tour Cost
• Day Of  (Before Tour Starts): 50% of Tour Cost
• After Tour Has Started/No Notification: 100% of Tour Cost

Notes/Cautions:

• A tour guide will be present for all activities.
• Some February 28th activities will take place outdoors. Please dress warmly.
• As this is a "Monitor Tour", participants will be asked to fill out a survey regarding the tour.
• As part of the goal of this tour is to promote tourism to Aomori, preference will be given to out-of-prefecture applicants.

February 2015 Events in Towada City

Towada Snow Viewing Rally
とわだ雪見ラリー (Towada Yukimi Rally)
Date: Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Time: Registration: 17:00; Start: 18:00; Finish/Raffle Drawing: 20:00
Fee: Advance Ticket: 2500yen; At-Door: 3000yen
Location: 5 bars around Towada
Ticket Purchase, Reception, Finish/Raffle Drawing: Towada Chamber of Commerce & Industry 商工会議所　(Map) 
Description: Within two hours, have a drink at each of the 5 specified bars around Towada and get a stamp. Bring your stamp card back to the Towada Chamber of Commerce & Industry at the end to be entered into a prize raffle drawing.

Towadako Winter Story
十和田湖冬物語 (Towadako Fuyu Monogatari)
Website (Japanese)
Date: Friday, February 6- Sunday, March 1, 2014
Location: Lake Towada Yasumiya 十和田湖畔休屋 (Map)
Admission: Free
Events/Attractions:

• 冬花火 Fireworks 20:00~20:10 Daily
• 光のゲート "Gate of Light" 17:00～21:00 Daily
• 光のトンネル "Tunnel of Light" 17:00～21:00 Daily
• かまくらＢａｒ Kamakura (Snow Hut) Bar 18:00～21:00 Daily
• 足湯 Ashi Yu (Foot Bath/Onsen) 18:00～21:00 Daily
• 雪のすべり台 Snow Slide (sled rentals 100yen/hour)
• 乙女の像ライトアップ "Light Up" of Otome no Zou (Bronze Maidens Statue) 17:00～21:00 Daily
• ゆきあかり横丁 Yuki Akari Yokocho (Alleyway Food Stands/Restaurants) 15:00～21:00 Weekdays; 11:00～21:00 Sat., Sun. & Holidays
• バナナボート Banana Boat 11:00～19:00, Fri.-Sun. & Holidays
• ホーストレッキング Horse Trekking 10：00～15:00 Sat., Sun. & Holidays

 

 

Towadako Winter Story & Prayer for Good Fortune Tour  
十和田湖冬物語と開運祈願ツアー (Towadako Fuyu Monogatari to Kaiun Kigan Tour)
PDF Flyer (Japanese)
(Note: This is a “monitor” tour, so you will probably be asked to fill in a survey at the end.)
Dates: Saturdays & Sundays from Feb. 7-Mar. 1 (Feb. 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, Mar 1)
Fee: 1500yen (includes activity fees and 1000yen worth of food vouchers)

Registration: Until 1 Week in Advance of Tour Date (Registration will close once the daily maximum for participants is reached); Register at Towada Toutetsu Kankou-Sha (0176-23-6102); Fee must be paid at time of registration (or within 3 days for phone reservations)

Schedule:
11:50 Departure: Kitasato University (Feb. 28/Mar. 1 only)
12:00 Departure: Shiyakusho Mae (City Hall)
12:30 Departure: Michi no Eki Oirase Roman Park
13:30-17:30 (Lake Towada) ① Horse Trekking & Horse Riding Experience; ② Visitor’s Center; ③ Ema (votive wooden tablet painted with a picture of a horse offered in prayer or in thanks for a prayer answered) offering to Towada Jinja and visit to the Otome no Zou (Maidens’ Statue)
17:30-20:30 (Festival Venue Area) ① Dinner ② Wax Ball Making ③ Fireworks
20:30 Departure (from Lake Towada)
21:30 Arrival: Michi no Eki Oirase Roman Park
22:00 Arrival: Shiyakusho Mae (City Hall)
22:10 Arrival: Kitasato University (Feb. 28/Mar. 1 only)

Towada Traditional Performing Arts Festival
十和田伝統芸能まつり (Towada Dentou Geinou Matsuri)
PDF Flyer (Japanese)
Date: Sunday, February 8, 2015
Time: 12:00-16:00 (Doors open at 11:30)
Location: Towada Bunka Center 十和田市民文化センター(Map)
Admission: Free
Description: Watch traditional (performance) art performances from various areas of Towada, e.g. Kagura, Koma Odori, Keimai, etc.