About the festival
At Akita Kanto Festival, performers balance tall lantern poles on their hands, shoulders and foreheads. Watch the bend of each pole and the small adjustments that keep it upright.
Who is it for?
Visitors interested in traditional performance skills and lantern photography.
Photo: STB-1 at Japanese Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Original date: 2008-08-05. Original image or Commons thumbnail; no additional edits.
Dates and times
Usually 3–6 August; next edition's details await the organizer's announcement
Usual season; next dates not confirmed. Times use JST. See the official programme for session times and changes.
Venue and parade route
Akita · 秋田
The nighttime venue is Kanto Odori between Sanno Crossroads and Nichome Bridge. The 2026 daytime skills competition used Area Nakaichi, with hands-on activities at Agora Plaza. Use the new venue map for the next edition.
竿燈大通り
The map pin marks a reference venue, rather than every entrance or the full parade route.
Getting there by train or bus
- Take the Akita Shinkansen from Tokyo to Akita Station, then walk about ten minutes to Kanto Odori. Reserved-seat entrances depend on your block.
What to see
- Lantern balancing
- Daytime skills competition
- Scheduled hands-on activities
History and origins
The festival developed from Edo-period summer customs for protection and a good harvest. The lantern poles evoke rice ears.
Planning your visit
Our editorial suggestions for planning your trip.
An evening gives you the glow of the lanterns; the daytime competition makes the balancing technique easier to follow.
Places to visit nearby
Senshu Park
千秋公園
A wooded park on the former Kubota Castle site, with stonework and castle remains.
Take a short daytime walk before the evening performance; allow for slopes within the park.
These stops and the suggested order are editorial recommendations. Check each venue's opening hours and festival-day road closures before travelling.
Akita Kanto Festival: common questions
When is Akita Kanto Festival?
Usually 3–6 August; next edition's details await the organizer's announcement This is the usual season, rather than a confirmed timetable for the next edition. Times are Japan Standard Time (JST).
Where does Akita Kanto Festival take place?
The nighttime venue is Kanto Odori between Sanno Crossroads and Nichome Bridge. The 2026 daytime skills competition used Area Nakaichi, with hands-on activities at Agora Plaza. Use the new venue map for the next edition.
How do I get to Akita Kanto Festival by public transport?
Take the Akita Shinkansen from Tokyo to Akita Station, then walk about ten minutes to Kanto Odori. Reserved-seat entrances depend on your block.
Are the daytime competition and evening performance in the same place?
No. The evening poles appear on Kanto Odori; daytime events have their own venues shown on the official map.
Official sources
- Festival and visitor guide 1 (www.akita-yulala.jp) ↗
- Festival and visitor guide 2 (www.tohokukanko.jp) ↗
Sources reviewed: .