Kosaka Tanabata Festival

The Kosaka Tanabata Festival is held on the first Saturday and Sunday of August, centered on Meiji Hyakunen-dori in Kosaka, Akita. It is said to have begun in the late Meiji era when miners who gathered in the prosperous mining town from across the country sought to evoke memories of their hometowns. Floats handmade by each neighborhood association are decorated with imaginative designs—from valiant warrior figures reminiscent of Aomori's Nebuta to popular anime characters—and parade through town to Kosaka Tanabata's distinctive music. On the final night, the lit floats gather for a 'joint procession,' bringing the excitement of pullers and spectators to its peak.