Japan Niigata Seasonal Tourist Information/2009 EVENT CALENDAR　April - June/Enjoy Niigata

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HOME > Seasonal Tourist Information > 2008 EVENT CALENDAR　April - June

2009 EVENT CALENDAR　April - June

Friday3 ~ Sunday 19 April	The 84th Takada Castle Cherry Blossom Viewing for 1 Million People Packed full of attractions such as the carrying of the miniature shrines and stage performances as well as the illumination lighting ceremony and the cherry blossom viewing parade. The event will bustle with food exhibitions selling local specialties and three hundred outdoor stalls. It is one of the three major nocturnal cherry blossom-viewing events in Japan. Venue : Takada Park Date : Friday3 ~ Sunday 19 April Bombori lanterns lighting and Sakura Road illuminations: Until 23:00 Cost : Free (within the park) Takada Castle Three-Tiered Turret: General Cost　200yen	Joetsu City
Wednesday 8 ~ Monday 20 April	Shibata Spring Festival Shibata Castle is a landmark of Shibata, which flourished as a castle town. During the festival, the castle will be illuminated and visitors will be able to enjoy the synergy of the nocturnal view of the cherry blossoms reflected on the moat and the castle. Venue : Shibata Castle Park Cost : Free	Shibata City
Friday 10 ~ Sunday 26 April	Mano Park Cherry Blossom Festival & Sado Spring Entertainment Festival The spring entertainment festival takes Venue in Mano Park, a major cherry blossom viewing spot. Viewing of cherry blossoms can be enjoyed at night in the park where approximately 2,000 cherry trees will be in bloom. Venue : Mano Park, Sado City Cost : Free	Sado City
Early ~ Late April	Muramatsu Park Cherry Blossom Festival	Gosen City
Early ~ late April	Mt. Kyozuka Cherry Blossom Festival	Myoko City
Early April ~ Early May	Mt. Yukyu Cherry Blossom Festival	Nagaoka City
Every Saturday, Sunday & national holiday between early April and mid May	Dolphin Watching Pod of wild dolphins that appear in Kashiwazaki Bay can be viewed from a cruise ship. ※Booking required　※There may be no dolphins to see as they are wild. Venue : Kashiwazaki Port Kanko Koryu Center (Kashiwazaki Port West Pier) Cost : Adult 4,000yen Elementary Students 2,000yen	Kashiwazaki City
Sunday, 19 April	Bunsui Oiran Procession The greatest attraction of the procession is the parade of three oirans (high-class courtesans) followed by seventy servants. Enjoy the gorgeous period picture scroll-like parade that passes through the row of cherry blossom trees. Time & Venue : 12:30 ~ 14:00　Okozu Bunsuiro Sakura Namiki 15:00 ~ 15:30 Jizodo Honcho dori Street Cost : Free　Parking: Available to tour buses only 2,500yen	Tsubame City
Sunday, 19 April (TBC)	Matsugamine Peak Cherry Blossoms & Jomon Cherry Blossom Festival	Joetsu City
Mid April	Gosen City Tulip Festival Held in Sumoto district where there are many tulip farms. Local specialties will also be sold on the day in mid April. Venue : Tulip farm in Ipponsugi, Sumoto District, Gosen City Cost : Free	Gosen City
Mid April	Kaji River Cherry Blossom Festival	Shibata City
Mid April ~ Early May	Fukushimagata Lagoon - Rape Blossoms A field of rape blossoms and Fukushimagata Lagoon can be viewed from the rooftop of the water station, View Fukushimagata Lagoon. Depending on the season, rare plants such as the foxnut and pickerelweed can be enjoyed and the Venue is also known for the migration of many wild birds.	Niigata City
Saturday, 25 April, 2, 23 & 30 May, 6, 13 & 27 June	Spring Niigata Hanamachijaya Flamboyant dances by Niigata geishas can be viewed at Enkikan, a section of the former mansion of the Saito family - a wealthy Niigata merchant in the Meiji Period - which was reconstructed at the present location. Venue : Enkikan Cost : 1,000yen (includes Maccha tea)　※TBC	Niigata City
Saturday 25 April ~ Tuesday (NH) 5 May (TBC)	Tainai City Tulip Festival 2009 There are approximately 800,000 tulips of 60 species and a field of rape blossoms across the approximately 4ha dune. Helicopter sightseeing flights and a photography contest are also held. Venue : Nagaike Ikoi No Mori Park Cost : Adult 100yen (donation for the festival for its duration)	Tainai City
Wednesday (NH), 29 April	Kizakura No Oka Cherry Blossom Festival	Tokamachi City
Wednesday (NH)29 April ~ Wednesday (NH) 6 May	Mt. Omine Cherry Blossom Festival	Shibata City
Late April ~ Early May	Imori Pond White Arum Festival Pretty white arums start to appear with the melting of the snow in early April and their numbers reach 100,000 in the course of time. It will take about ten minutes to view the flowers by taking a walk on the trail that circles the pond.	Myoko City
Saturday, 2 May, 6 June, 4 July, 5 September, 3 October	Tenryo Sado Ryotsu Open-air Noh Performance	Sado City
Sunday (NH),3 May	Tsugawa Foxes’ Wedding Procession The festival, which was created, based on the foxfire legend in Mt. Kirin in Tsugawa will be 20 years old this year. At dusk, the bride dressed as a fox will parade to Kirinzan Park with her attendants where her groom awaits and the wedding will take Venue in the glow of bonfire. Venue : Kirinzan Park, Tsugawa, Aga Town Cost : Free	Aga Town
Sunday (NH), 3 May	The 33th Tokamachi Kimono Festival A festival held in the city of Kimono, Tokamachi. A variety of events such as a kimono show will be held. Venue : Tokamachishi Honcho Dori, Eki Dori, Takadamachi Dori, Showa Dori Cost : Free (some fee-paying events)	Tokamachi City
Sunday (NH), 3 May, Sunday, 7 June, Sunday, 5 July, Saturday, 15 August, Sunday, 6 September, Sunday, 4 October, Sunday, 1 November	Bullfighting	Ojiya City
Monday 4 (NH) & Sunday 24 May, Sunday, 21 June, Sunday, 19 July, Sunday 2 & Friday 14 August, Sunday, 20 September, Sunday, 11 October, Tuesday (NH), 3 November	Bullfighting The highlight of Yamakoshi’s bull fight is the mighty clash between the bulls. The fight is stopped once it reaches a crescendo by pulling the bulls apart. This is to protect the bulls and to respect the fighting bulls. Venue : Yamakoshi Togyujo or Mushikame Togyujo Hours : Opens at 10:00, fight commences at 13:00 Cost : Adult 2,000yen (Free for children accompanied by an adult)	Nagaoka City
Early ~ Mid May	Chokoku Temple - Peonies Chokoku Temple is an ancient temple built in 807. Peonies were planted as medicinal herb since its main temple in Nara was called the Peony Temple. Since then, it has been known as Peony Temple. Venue : Chokoku Temple Cost : Free	Sado City
Sunday, 17 May	2009 Sponichi Sado Long Ride 210	Sado City
Sunday, 24 May	Sadokoku Ondeko.com Traditional performance, mainly Ondeko, is put on by many groups. Fun attractions such as a tub boat ride can be enjoyed all day long. Venue : Ryotsu Port Ondeko Dome Cost : Free	Sado City
Friday, 29 May ~ Sunday, 21 June(may change depending on weather conditions)	Fragrant Rose Festival The festival is held when roses are in bloom. 2,000 roses of approximately 500 species can viewed. Venue : Echigo Hillside Park Cost : Adult (High School Students) 400yen, child (Junior High/Elementary Students) 80yen Parking: Larges 1,020yen, standard 310yen, two-wheeled 100yen	Nagaoka City
Late May	Oze - White Arums The world created by white arums, Ozenuma Pond and mountains still covered in snow is beautiful and fantastical. The route entering Oze from Niigata Prefecture is shorter than other routes on foot.	Uonuma City
Late May ~ Early June	Onogame - Sweetroot Onogame rises above the Sea of Japan in the northernmost part of Sado. Yellow sweetroot blossoms blend in to the blue skies and sea and the green fields. With its numbers reaching several millions and approximately 500,000 stems, it is the largest colony of sweetroot in Japan. Venue : Onogame Plateau Cost : Free	Sado City
Late May ~ Early June	The 15th Iris Festival	Tokamachi City
Thursday, 4 ~ Monday, 8 June	Shirone Giant Kite Battle Giant kites the side of 24 tatami mats put together are released up in the air from both shores of Nakanokuchi River, which is the tributary of Shinano River. They are entangled in the air and the strings are pulled until the string of one of the kites break. Venue : Banks of Nakanokuchi River Cost : Free viewing (paying gallery seats available), free spectator boats	Niigata City
Saturday, 6 June	Kyomachi Ondo Nagashi Yoi No Mai Aikawa Ondo Dance is performed in Kyomachi Dori Street, which was Aikawa’s main street during the times when the gold mines flourished. The circular dance performed inside Sado bugyosho is free for tourists to join. Venue : Kyomachi Dori Street & Sado bugyosho, Aikawa, Sado City Cost : Free	Sado City
Saturday, 6 & Sunday, 7 June	Sanjo Great Kite Battle Venue : Sanjo Tsubame Sogo Ground Cost : Free	Sanjo City
Saturday, 6 ~ Monday, 8 June	Mitsuke Imamachi & Nagaoka Nakanoshima Giant Kite Battlet Venue : On the banks of Kariyata River Cost : Free	Mitsuke City & Nagaoka City
Sunday, 14 ~ Tuesday, 16 June	Enma-ichi Festival The Enma Market, which has a proud history dating over 200 years, is one of the three major markets of Niigata. About 500 open-air stalls will line the approximately 2km long area of the city center. Venue : Kashiwazaki City Higashihon-machi, Nishihon-machi, Nikoniko Dori, etc. Cost : Free	Kashiwazaki City
Mid June ~ Early July	Sado Blue-fin Tuna Festival Blue-fin tuna caught off the shores of Sado between June and July is said to be the best of its kind. Tuna will be sold in pieces and during the period, fresh tuna dishes can be enjoyed in traditional Japanese inns and restaurants in Ryotsu. ※Quantities on offer may be specified during the period. Venue : Sado City Kamoko Kanko Center (on-the-spot cutting and selling), participating inns and restaurants Prices : Market price (discount)	Sado City