A 2-night, 3-day sightseeing tour visiting the three major summer festivals of Tohoku: the Aomori Nebuta Festival, the Akita Kanto Festival, and the Sendai Tanabata Festival, as well as the Aomori Prefectural Museum of Art.
- This special summer-only tour allows you to experience three of Tohoku's most representative summer festivals (Nebuta, Kanto, and Tanabata) all at once.
- In Aomori, you can visit the Aomori Prefectural Museum of Art and enjoy the spectacular Aomori Nebuta Festival from a viewing stand. A chicken rice bento box dinner is included, allowing you to fully experience Aomori's culture and cuisine.
- In Akita, enjoy the fantastical Akita Kanto Festival from the viewing stands. Dinner includes an Akita Komachi rice bento box.
- In Miyagi and Sendai, you can freely enjoy the Sendai Tanabata Festival and experience the vibrant end of summer in Tohoku.
- Accommodation options include hot springs on the shores of Lake Towada, hotels with large public baths in Tono City, and other locations. You can relax and unwind while recovering from the fatigue of sightseeing.
- This is a safe and reliable sightseeing tour departing from Tokyo Station, with a tour guide accompanying you from the first day to the last. Enjoy comfortable travel by Shinkansen (bullet train) and efficiently visit representative summer festivals and tourist spots in the Tohoku region.
Package Options
Sightseeing Tours
| Tour Type | Shared tour |
| Transportation method | Transfer from meeting point |
| Minimum participant requirement | 11 travelers |
| Meal arrangement | Breakfast included |
| Accommodation type | Hotel |
| Seasonal | Summer Festival |
| Sightseeing type | Natural sights |
| Transport | Bus tour |
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.
This is a special summer-only tour that takes you to three of Tohoku's most representative summer festivals all at once.
Experience the full charm of summer in Tohoku by visiting the spectacular Aomori Nebuta Festival, the beautiful and fantastical Akita Kanto Festival with its dazzling lights, and the Sendai Tanabata Festival, where the city is decorated with magnificent ornaments.
For sightseeing, we will also take you to the Aomori Prefectural Museum of Art. For meals, you can enjoy the unique flavors of Tohoku, such as "Chicken Rice Bento," "Akita Komachi Bento," and "Ichinoseki Local Cuisine Set Meal."
Accommodation is available at hotels in Towada Lake Onsen or within Tono City. Relax and unwind in the hot springs or large public baths to soothe your travel fatigue.
This tour utilizes Shinkansen bullet trains and chartered buses for transportation, and a tour guide will accompany you from departure at Tokyo Station until the final day, making it a safe and enjoyable experience even for first-time travelers.
This recommended summer trip to Tohoku offers a wealth of attractions, including festivals, culture, delicious food, and hot springs, all in one place.
[Aomori Nebuta Festival] Held annually from August 2nd to 7th, this is one of Japan's most representative festivals in the Tohoku region. Approximately 20 giant, illuminated floats made of washi paper, called "Nebuta," parade dynamically through the night streets along a 3.1km course. You can enjoy this popular and impressive festival, which attracts over 3 million tourists every year, from the viewing seats. Dancers called "Haneto" dance wildly and energetically to the music of traditional drums and flutes.
![[Aomori Nebuta Festival] Held annually from August 2nd to 7th, this is one of Japan's most representative festivals in the Tohoku region. Approximately 20 giant, illuminated floats made of washi paper, called "Nebuta," parade dynamically through the night streets along a 3.1km course. You can enjoy this popular and impressive festival, which attracts over 3 million tourists every year, from the viewing seats. Dancers called "Haneto" dance wildly and energetically to the music of traditional drums and flutes.](https://image.kkday.com/v2/image/get/c_fit%2Cq_55%2Ct_webp%2Cw_960/s1.kkday.com/product_scm_21564/20260601091647_4ZMmA/jpg)
The Akita Kanto Festival is a summer festival with a history of over 270 years, held annually from August 3rd to 6th. Craftsmen skillfully manipulate giant bamboo poles, which resemble "glowing rice stalks," by positioning them in a cross shape, attaching numerous lights and lanterns to them. Enjoy the Kanto festival's spectacular performances as the participants parade through the streets accompanied by drumming from the viewing stands.
[Sendai Tanabata Festival] Japan's largest Tanabata festival, continuing since the time of Lord Date Masamune! You can see the magnificent bamboo decorations and seven ornaments that are layered and flutter in the wind! It is one of Tohoku's summer festivals, combining the elegance of Japan's ancient star festival with the splendor of its decorations.
![[Sendai Tanabata Festival] Japan's largest Tanabata festival, continuing since the time of Lord Date Masamune! You can see the magnificent bamboo decorations and seven ornaments that are layered and flutter in the wind! It is one of Tohoku's summer festivals, combining the elegance of Japan's ancient star festival with the splendor of its decorations.](https://image.kkday.com/v2/image/get/c_fit%2Cq_55%2Ct_webp%2Cw_960/s1.kkday.com/product_scm_21564/20260529020146_ZjGAt/jpg)
[Aomori Museum of Art] This museum was designed with inspiration from the excavation site of the Sannai-Maruyama archaeological site. Visitors can enjoy a variety of works, including the giant three-dimensional dog sculpture "Aomori Dog," which is the museum's symbol.
![[Aomori Museum of Art] This museum was designed with inspiration from the excavation site of the Sannai-Maruyama archaeological site. Visitors can enjoy a variety of works, including the giant three-dimensional dog sculpture "Aomori Dog," which is the museum's symbol.](https://image.kkday.com/v2/image/get/c_fit%2Cq_55%2Ct_webp%2Cw_960/s1.kkday.com/product_scm_21564/20260529020707_QLERr/jpg)
Purchase Notice
[Travel conditions]
Departure point/Destination: Tokyo, Aomori, Akita, Miyagi
Trip duration: 2 nights, 3 days
Transportation used: JR Shinkansen (bullet train) and chartered bus.
Bus companies operating the service: Dream Kanko and other equivalent contracted bus companies.
Meals: Breakfast twice, lunch twice, dinner twice (packed lunch)
Accommodation: [First night] Towada-so or Lake View Hotel (Japanese-style room, Japanese-Western style room, or Western-style room)
[Second night]: Aeria Tono (Western-style room/twin)
Minimum number of participants: 11 people
Tour guide: 1 person
[Travel planning/execution]
Company Name: T-LIFE Holdings Co., Ltd.
Address: 4F, Hikarigaoka MK Building, 5-11-26 Takamatsu, Nerima-ku, Tokyo
Registration Number: Japan Tourism Agency Registered Travel Agency No. 197
Affiliated travel industry association: Japan Association of Travel Agents
Reminders
A minimum of 11 traveler(s) are required for the tour to depart. If the number of participants does not reach the minimum requirement, the tour will be canceled. An email regarding tour cancellation will be sent 21 day(s) before the departure date
Please arrive at the designated location 5 minute(s) before the scheduled departure time, as the tour will depart on time
The festival will generally be held even in the event of rain. Furthermore, if the festival is cancelled or postponed due to severe weather, the decision will be made on the day of the event, and the tour will still proceed. Please note that in such cases, we will not be able to refund seating fees. Also, the seating area is not covered. The seats may be wet in the event of rain, so please bring a raincoat or similar. (Umbrellas are not permitted.)
Please wear comfortable shoes, as it may take about 20 minutes to walk from the parking lot to the festival venue.
Arrival times at each accommodation may vary depending on the level of occupancy.
Your accommodation may be changed to a hotel of equivalent class.
To ensure the bus driver has sufficient rest time, the departure time the following day may change depending on the time of arrival at the hotel the previous day.
For the second night's stay at the hotel in Tono City, if three people are sharing a room, an extra bed will be provided.
Due to road conditions, congestion at tourist spots, etc., it may be unavoidable that some sightseeing spots will be omitted, sightseeing time shortened, departure times may be brought forward, or arrival times may be delayed.
Our tour guides may provide explanations in Japanese using a multilingual simultaneous interpretation system. This system supports languages from around the world, including English, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, and Korean. (Please bring your smartphone; app installation is not required.)
FAQ
The Tohoku Big 3 Summer Festivals generally take place from late July to early August. Specifically, the Aomori Nebuta Festival is typically held from August 2nd to 7th. The Akita Kanto Festival runs from August 3rd to 6th, and the Sendai Tanabata Festival usually takes place from August 6th to 8th. These periods offer the opportunity to experience all three iconic events.
The Aomori Nebuta Festival is renowned for its gigantic, vibrantly colored lantern floats depicting historical figures, mythical creatures, and samurai warriors. These impressive "nebuta" floats are paraded through the streets, accompanied by energetic dancers called "haneto" in traditional costumes, loud taiko drums, and flutes, creating an incredibly dynamic and festive atmosphere that invites participation.
The "Rassera Rassera" chant is a core cultural element of the Aomori Nebuta Festival. It's a lively call-and-response shouted by the "haneto" dancers and spectators alike, designed to elevate the energy and enthusiasm of the parade. This chant embodies the festive spirit and communal joy, encouraging everyone to immerse themselves in the celebration.
For an optimal viewing experience of the Aomori Nebuta Festival parade, securing reserved seating is highly recommended. This ensures an unobstructed view of the magnificent floats and the vibrant haneto dancers without the need to arrive hours early to claim a spot. The evening parades, particularly during the latter half of the festival, are often considered the most spectacular.
In Aomori, beyond the festive energy of the Nebuta Festival, you can explore the Aomori Museum of Art. This distinctive museum showcases a unique architectural design and houses an impressive collection of local and international contemporary art, including notable works by Yoshitomo Nara. It offers a tranquil and enriching cultural experience, providing a contrast to the festival's excitement.
While the Aomori Nebuta Festival focuses on large lantern floats and dancing, the Akita Kanto Festival is a stunning display of balance and skill. Performers hoist incredibly tall bamboo poles adorned with numerous lanterns, symbolizing rice stalks, demonstrating remarkable dexterity. The Sendai Tanabata Festival, in contrast, is characterized by thousands of vibrant, elaborate streamers and decorations adorning shopping streets, creating a colorful and whimsical atmosphere based on a romantic star-crossed lovers legend.
The tour includes comfortable accommodation, such as stays in Towadako Onsen and hotels with large public baths in Tono City, allowing guests to relax and rejuvenate. All travel is facilitated by round-trip Shinkansen from Tokyo. An experienced escort accompanies the group from the beginning to the end of the tour, ensuring seamless transitions and assistance throughout the journey.
Transportation for visiting the Aomori Nebuta, Akita Kanto, and Sendai Tanabata Festivals is efficiently managed with comfortable round-trip Shinkansen from Tokyo. An accompanying escort is present from the first day to the last, handling all logistical arrangements, transfers between locations, and providing guidance at each festival site. This ensures a smooth and worry-free experience for travelers.
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