If you're looking for some family-friendly fun this February, the Shizukuishi Winter Festa at Iwate's Koiwai Farm is worth penciling in on the calendar.
This new event will include a variety of snow sports, sledding, and snow tube rides, local cuisine available to purchase from food trucks, after-dark illuminations, and weekend firework displays.
The entrance fee for the festival is ¥ 400 for adults and ¥ 150 for children.
Getting there
Koiwai Farm can be conveniently accessed via bus from Morioka Station, which is served by various lines including the Akita Shinkansen, the Tōhoku Shinkansen, and the Tōhoku Main Line.
Look for bus stop #10 (Koiwai Line), and there is a direct bus running to Koiwai Farm. The travel time is approximately 30 minutes and the bus fare is ¥ 710 for adults and ¥ 360 for children.
For those who opt to drive, the venue is 15 minutes (12km) from the Tohoku Expressway's Morioka IC.
