Things to do in Odate City

• Age 0～
• Within 1 hour

Would you like to experience traditional Japanese culture wearing kimono and trying Japanese tea ceremony at the beautiful Japanese garden of Torigata Hall, Keijo Park’s famous red Taiko Bridge, or the historic Orokan? How about an elegant photo shoot to commemorate your experience?

• For Rainy Days
• In Door Activity
• For Groups
• For Family

• Age 0～Age 99
• 4～5 hours
• 16:00

Enjoy boat-ramming of the Okuribon Festival. The boats off square in pairs and are rammed against each other at the nose. Participants smash together, shouting and waving as fireworks go off overhead.The Boat-Ramming (Butsuke-ai)Ceremony: Each of the yakatabune that take part in the ceremony is prepared by the residents and shopkeepers of a different neighborhood of Yokote. While the boat are reused from previous festivals, every year the residents must fashion frames new straw hulls and fittings, a process that takes up to a month. Each of the participating neighborhoods builds a yakatabune, which must be carried from its home neighborhood to the dry riverbed of the Yokote River. On August 15, the boats are lined up during the bon odori so that visitors can see them up close. On August 16, the boats are pulled down to the river for the sending-off ceremony. This is followed by the “boat-ramming” (butsuke-ai) ceremony, which has become the highlight of the Okuribon Festival. The boats are brought back to the bridge, where they square off in pairs and are rammed against each other at the nose. Representatives from each neighborhood remain aboard the boats as they smash together, shouting and waving as fireworks go off overhead.

• For Family

• Age 6～Age 100
• 2～3 hours
• 10:30 / 11:00 / 11:30 / 12:00 / 12:30 / 13:00

"Kamabuku" is made from rice flour and potatoes, and can only be found in the local Odate area. Come make this simple, nostalgic taste with the cheerful mothers! Each person will make one. The instructor's mother will also join in the cooking. You can take home what you make. Everyone will sample the kamabuku made by the instructor's mother.

• For Rainy Days
• In Door Activity

• Age 6～Age 100
• 2～3 hours
• 10:30 / 11:00 / 11:30 / 12:00 / 12:30 / 13:00

This is an experience of hand-making "Nakayama Soba," a local specialty. "Nakayama Soba" is a New Year's Eve soba in Odate, Akita, and its production is broadcast on television every year, making it a seasonal tradition at the end of the year. Your instructor will be a cheerful mother from the direct sales store "Cheerful Mother's Store," who also makes the soba! The taste of soba you make yourself is exceptional. You will be able to eat the "Nakayama Soba" you make on the spot. You will be able to taste both cold and hot soba.

• For Rainy Days
• In Door Activity

• Age 6～Age 100
• 2～3 hours
• 10:30 / 11:00 / 11:30 / 12:00 / 12:30 / 13:00

Experience making miso tanpo (rice balls) with special miso paste and kiritanpo hotpot. ♪ A cheerful mother will give a detailed lecture on how to make Akita's local dish, kiritanpo, in Odate, the birthplace of kiritanpo. The freshly made, piping hot kiritanpo hotpot is exceptionally delicious! Enjoy one skewered with special miso as miso tanpo and the other as kiritanpo hotpot. ♪ ~Experience Process~ ① Gathering and Check-in ② Experience begins, explanation of the process, making tanpo (mash rice → divide into portions → put on skewers and shape → grill over charcoal), making kiritanpo hotpot, and enjoying the finished dish. ③ Ending: After the experience is over, the session ends.

• For Rainy Days
• In Door Activity