AKITA
Facing the Japan Sea, Akita Prefecture is rich in nature and home to the first ever world heritage in Japan, Shirakami Mountains. It is also known for its rice and Japanese sake along with delicious local cuisine such as Kiritanpo.日本海に面し、日本で初めて世界遺産に登録された「白神山地」をはじめ、豊かな自然に恵まれている。米どころ、酒どころとしても知られ、きりたんぽなど美味な郷土料理も魅力。
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1. Kanto Festival 竿灯まつり
One of the biggest lantern festivals in Japan, 10,000 paper lanterns representing rice bags sway in the air to pray for an abundant harvest and ward off bad luck. Young people march around balancing 12m long poles on their shoulders and foreheads to create a mysterious river of light.
日本三大提灯祭りの1つ。米俵に見立てた1万個の提灯が揺らめき、五穀豊穣と厄除けを祈っていく。約12mの竿燈を肩や額で支えながら若者達が練り歩き、幻想的な光の川となる。
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2. Omagari Firework Festival 大曲花火大会
Only the best firework technicians display their skills in one of the three greatest firework festivals in Japan. The elegant performances of light blooming like flowers in the night sky are a worthy sight to behold. Technicians compete against each other with designs, colors, creativity and stories.
一流の花火師だけが技を披露する日本三大花火大会。夜空いっぱいに花が咲き乱れ、絢爛豪華な光の競演が見どころ。デザインや色彩、創造性、ストーリーなど技術と芸術で競い合う。
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3. Kisakata 象潟
This area was once so beautiful that Matsuo Basho praised it in his work “Oku no Hosomichi.” However, an earthquake around 200 years ago lifted the seabed to create the current landscape. Even now, when water fills the rice fields, Kisakata looks as it did when it was a lagoon.
かの松尾芭蕉も「奥の細道」で詠んだほど美しかった景色は、200年ほど前の地震で海底が隆起し現在のような風景に。今も水田に水が入るとかつて潟湖だった頃の姿を彷彿とさせる。
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4. Omonogawa (Araya Seaside Park) 雄物川河口
Visitors to this park facing the sea of Japan are charmingly greeted by the famous “Momosada Frog” statue. A giant windmill on the desolate beach spins slowly in the ocean breeze and creates a nostalgic mood.
日本海に面した公園で、名物「ももさだカエル」が訪れる人を愛嬌たっぷりに出迎える。荒涼とした浜辺には巨大な風車が海風を受けてゆっくり回り、ノスタルジックな気分に浸れる。
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5. Mototaki Falls 元滝伏流水
This waterfall from the underground runoff of Mt. Chokai runs over moss-covered rocks. Its multiple lines of white light seem to crawl as they flow over the lush green rocks. Mist sometimes covers everything and creates a subtle, mysterious beauty.
鳥海山の苔むした岩肌を流れ落ちる伏流水。鮮緑の岩肌を這うように幾重にも重なって白い光の線となって流れていく。ときに霧が一体を包み幽玄の美のような神秘的な光景となる。
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6. Hachibodai Lookout 八望台
From this lookout you can see green mountains such as Mt. Kampu, Mt. Motoyama, and the Ou mountains, as well as lakes Ichinomegata and Ninomegata, both crater lakes formed by volcanic eruptions. A refreshing breeze from the Sea of Japan reaches the lookout to provide relief from the heat.
火山の噴火によってできた火山湖、一ノ目潟・二ノ目潟や寒風山、本山、奥羽山脈など緑豊かな山々を一望できる。日本海から吹き付ける風が爽やかに抜け、暑さを和らげてくれる。
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