Akita Kanto Festival Premium Viewing Seats Reservation (Akita Prefecture - Festival)
- Enjoy the Akita Kanto Festival, one of Tohoku's three major festivals, in a premium viewing plan with special viewing seats and a private room at a long-established restaurant.
- The fantastical Kanto lanterns, some reaching up to 12 meters in height and weighing 50 kilograms, illuminate the night sky, offering a breathtaking, up-close view of the performers' masterful skills.
- A luxurious viewing experience featuring a lavish kaiseki meal made with carefully selected ingredients from Akita Prefecture, accompanied by the hospitality of a long-established traditional Japanese restaurant.
- Enjoy a comfortable viewing environment away from crowds, making it perfect for first-timers and tourists alike. Experience a special moment to fully appreciate Akita's traditional culture and summer festival.
Package Options
Attraction Tickets
| Ticket type | E-ticket (direct entry) |
| Show type | Festival experience |
Product Info
The content of this product is provided by machine translation and may not reflect the actual information, please take this into consideration before booking.
— Akita Kanto Festival Overview —
The Akita Kanto Festival, one of the three major festivals in the Tohoku region, is a traditional event that represents summer in Akita.
The Kanto lanterns, which can reach up to 12 meters in height and weigh up to 50 kilograms, are adorned with countless lanterns, creating a magical atmosphere on the main street at night.
The sight of skilled participants expertly manipulating the gigantic Kanto lanterns on their foreheads, shoulders, and waists is truly breathtaking. The spectacle of the lights, resembling rice stalks, swaying in the night sky captivates all who visit.
This is one of Japan's leading summer festivals, where you can experience the unique traditions and excitement of Akita up close.
- Dates: August 3rd (Mon) - 6th (Thu), 2026
- Venue: Central Akita City
— Premium seating plan details —
At Shidaya, a traditional Japanese restaurant facing Kanto-dori Avenue, the venue for the Akita Kanto Festival, you can enjoy seasonal Akita delicacies in a relaxed private room setting.
After your meal, you can enjoy a close-up view of the spectacular Kanto festival, where the lanterns rise simultaneously right before your eyes. You can enjoy the magical glow of the lanterns and the masterful skills of the experienced performers from a prime seat.
Experience Akita's unique climate, traditional culture, and the vibrant energy of its festivals with all your senses.
- Dates: August 3rd (Mon) - 6th (Thu), 2026
- Time: 17:15 - 21:00 (Registration starts at 17:00)
- Venue: Ryotei Shidaya
The Akita Kanto Festival, one of the three major festivals of Tohoku, is a traditional event that represents summer in Akita!
Shidaya is a long-established restaurant founded in 1876. Enjoy a relaxing meal and a peaceful time in our charming private rooms.
Premium private room for 4 people
VIP private room for 8 people
VIP private room for 12 people
VIP private room only! A performance of dance and hospitality by an Akita geisha (approximately 20 minutes)
Important Info
Reminders
This plan is a request-based booking system. We will confirm your reservation after checking seat availability.
① We refuse service to anyone associated with anti-social forces.
② Reselling purchased seats is prohibited.
If any actions violate the above points ① and ②, we reserve the right to cancel the reservation and will not issue a refund. If the reservation has already been used, you will be asked to leave. We will not be held liable for any damages or problems arising from these actions.
There is no dedicated parking available at the venue. Due to expected heavy traffic congestion caused by traffic restrictions, we strongly recommend using the nearest public transportation. We are happy to assist you with transportation arrangements for your visit. Please feel free to contact us.
If you require service in a language other than Japanese, please let us know at the time of purchase.
If an event is canceled due to circumstances beyond the organizer's control, we will, in principle, notify you by the event date, except in unavoidable circumstances such as natural disasters or disease outbreaks. In such cases, the event fee will be fully refunded. However, no refunds will be given for cancellations due to customer reasons.
In the event that the event is canceled due to an earthquake, typhoon, tsunami, storm, flood, epidemic or infectious disease outbreak, other natural disaster, war, riot, civil unrest, terrorism, labor dispute, strike by a third party, enactment or amendment of laws and regulations, orders or dispositions by public authorities, fire not attributable to the organizer, or other force majeure event, the event fee will not be refunded.
How to Redeem Your Voucher
How to Use Your Voucher
- Please present the e-voucher on-site
Voucher Redemption Period
- The voucher must be redeemed on the selected date and within operating hours; Invalid after expiration
- Registration will begin at 5:00 PM on the day of the event in front of "Shidaya". After registration, you may freely enter and exit the venue. When leaving Shidaya, please speak to a nearby staff member. During the Kanto performance, please be considerate of other customers when entering and exiting the venue.
Experience Location
Location Name: Ryotei Shidaya
Address: 3-5-11 Omachi, Akita City, Akita Prefecture 010-0921Cancellation Policy
- Once the order has been completed, it cannot be canceled, modified, or refunded
- Due to time zone differences, the confirmed cancellation date is based on the supplier’s local time. Please allow 2–5 business days to process your cancellation request, after which the cancellation fee will be charged according to the product’s cancellation policy. Once the cancellation is confirmed, you will receive your refund within 14 working days.
FAQ
The Akita Kanto Festival is one of Tohoku's three major summer festivals, celebrated annually in Akita Prefecture. It's renowned for its unique performance where participants, called "sashite," balance incredibly tall and heavy bamboo poles adorned with numerous lanterns on various body parts—foreheads, shoulders, and hips. These Kanto lanterns can reach up to 12 meters in height and weigh around 50 kilograms, creating a dazzling spectacle of light and skill as they illuminate the night sky. The festival celebrates a bountiful harvest and wards off evil spirits.
The Akita Kanto Festival typically features nightly parades on Kanto-Odori Street, where hundreds of performers showcase their exceptional balancing skills with the illuminated Kanto poles. During the day, there are also "Day Kanto" events, often held at Senshu Park, where smaller Kanto poles are demonstrated, and techniques are taught. The main event, the Night Kanto, usually runs for several evenings in early August, with performances starting in the early evening and lasting for a few hours.
From Tokyo, the most efficient way to reach Akita Prefecture is by taking the Akita Shinkansen (bullet train). This direct service offers a comfortable and scenic journey to Akita Station. Alternatively, domestic flights are available from Tokyo's Haneda Airport to Akita Airport, followed by a limousine bus into Akita city. Highway buses also connect Tokyo with Akita, providing a more economical option, though travel time is considerably longer.
Yes, the Akita Shinkansen (Komachi) provides direct bullet train service to Akita Station from Tokyo. Its benefits for festival-goers include a fast and convenient journey, significantly reducing travel time compared to other modes. It offers comfortable seating and amenities, allowing visitors to arrive refreshed and ready to enjoy the festival. Booking in advance is recommended, especially during peak festival season, to secure seats.
With premium viewing seats, you can expect a comfortable and immersive experience away from the general crowds. These special seats offer an unobstructed, close-up view of the fantastical Kanto lanterns and the performers' masterful balancing acts. Often, a premium plan also includes access to a private room at a long-established restaurant, allowing you to enjoy the festival in a more exclusive setting, perfect for first-timers and those seeking a relaxed environment.
The main parades and performances of the Akita Kanto Festival primarily take place along Kanto-Odori Street in Akita City. During the festival, the street is closed to traffic, transforming into a vibrant stage for the lantern-balancing acts. Besides the nightly main event, you can visit Senshu Park for daytime Kanto demonstrations and enjoy the festive atmosphere around Akita Station with food stalls and local vendors.
A premium viewing experience for the Akita Kanto Festival often includes a luxurious kaiseki meal. This traditional multi-course Japanese dinner features carefully selected, seasonal ingredients predominantly from Akita Prefecture, prepared with exquisite culinary artistry. It's typically served in a private room at a long-established traditional Japanese restaurant, providing a refined dining experience alongside the festival's vibrant atmosphere and hospitality.
Akita city is well-connected by local public transport, making it easy to navigate without a car, especially during the Kanto Festival. The main festival site on Kanto-Odori Street is within walking distance or a short bus ride from Akita Station. Local buses operate regularly throughout the city. Taxis are also readily available. Walking is a pleasant option for exploring the central areas and accessing festival activities.
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