Kazuno: Markets, Festivals and Cultural History

The city of Kazuno brings together very different cultural traces: Hanawa is known for its long history as a town and its vibrant market and festival traditions, while the Ōyu Stone Circles offer insights into the late Jōmon period. Hanawa is a central area of Kazuno. Its urban area extends around Hanawa Station on the JR Hanawa Line. This makes it possible to explore the region through a variety of themes—from everyday history and craftsmanship to archaeological sites.

Hanawa: Market Life and Festival Traditions

Hanawa developed culturally and economically as the castle town of Hanawadate, where officials of the domain were stationed. The morning market offers a different perspective on the town: it is held on calendar dates ending in 3 or 8. Stalls offer seasonal vegetables and mountain vegetables, fruit and vegetables from Kazuno, fish, clothing and hardware, as well as goods from blacksmiths. The vendors and goods on offer may vary from market day to market day; check local details before your trip.

A striking contrast to the regular market is Hanawa Bayashi, which, according to the city, takes place every year on August 19 and 20. The festival is dedicated to the Kōfuku Inari Shrine in Hanawa. Ten lavishly decorated floats parade through the streets all night, accompanied by music. It is advisable to confirm the programme for your travel year. The float event was added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2016.

Those interested in Hanawa Bayashi outside the festival dates can see the floats on display year-round in the festival exhibition hall. The hall is next to the Michi-no-Eki Kazuno roadside station and also has a taiko drumming experience area. The exhibition and festival thus offer two different ways to experience the same tradition: the floats in festive motion and their design in a permanent display.

Architectural History and Cultural Heritage

The Kazuno City Museum of History and Folklore is housed in a former public assembly hall. The wooden building was constructed in September 1916 and combines Western-influenced features with traditional craftsmanship: its exterior walls are boarded, the windows slide open, and the capitals of the entrance columns are decorated with plant motifs. The building is considered unique within the city and was designated a tangible cultural property by the city in 1991.

The collection also focuses on tangible traces of everyday life. It includes folklore materials from the Meiji period through the early Shōwa period, as well as household items, agricultural tools and sake brewery barrels. The former public building and the objects on display offer different perspectives on history: architecture and the use of a building on the one hand, and work and domestic life across several eras on the other. Check the museum’s current operating details before visiting.

Another cultural tradition is Dainichidō Bugaku, which has been passed down for around 1,300 years and is designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan. The main building of the former Sekizen Sake Brewery is also part of the area’s architectural history: it was built in 1905 and is registered as a tangible cultural property. Together, these examples show how inherited practices and preserved buildings can be explored as different themes on a cultural trip.

Archaeology, Industrial History and Local Cuisine

The Nonakado and Manza Stone Circles are located in Towada-Ōyu. Together, they form a large archaeological site dating to the late Jōmon period, around 4,000 years ago. The Ōyu Stone Circle Center offers guided tours of the site and exhibition hall six times a day. As the schedule may change, check tour times before your visit. The stone circles offer a different timescale from Hanawa’s buildings and collections: here, the focus is on a much more distant past.

The Osarizawa Copper Mine is also part of Kazuno’s industrial history and is considered Japan’s largest historic copper mine site. Another hands-on experience is offered at the Kiritanpo Hall at the Michi-no-Eki Kazuno roadside station, where visitors can spread special walnut miso on tanpo and grill it. As the availability of this experience should be confirmed, check the latest information before your trip.

When choosing a holiday rental in Kazuno, your preferred focus for the trip can be a useful guide. If you specifically want to experience the morning market or Hanawa Bayashi, plan your dates around the market or festival days mentioned above. For a trip with a stronger focus on cultural history, the museum collections, stone circles and traditional Bugaku take centre stage. Confirm specific visit dates against the latest programmes and opening hours.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Oga, Noshiro, Daisen, Yokote, Ōdate, Semboku, Fujisato, Uwamuki.

For the main travel overview: Akita Prefecture.