What comes to mind when someone asks you, "What are the highlights of a summer trip to Hakodate?"

Enjoy gourmet cuisine featuring freshly caught squid and other seafood, exotic streetscapes with a beautiful contrast against the greenery, and stunning views from Mount Hakodate, including sea of ​​clouds and foggy nightscapes...

Hakodate in the summer offers many sights and attractions. And summer in Hakodate is also the season for summer festivals.

This time, we'll introduce four summer festivals in Hakodate and southern Hokkaido that you should definitely visit if you're traveling to Hakodate in the summer. Each of these summer festivals has its own unique character and is sure to be a hit!

<Table of Contents>
June: The highlight is the thrilling boat rowing competition at the "Minami Kayabe Hirome Boat Festival".
June: The solemn torchlight procession of the "Iōzan Festival in Kaminokuni Town"
July: The beautiful "Onuma Lake Festival" with its floating lanterns.
In August, the "Hakodate Port Festival" features a parade through the streets with squid dances.
Final thoughts

Minamikayabe is a port town located about 30 kilometers east of Hakodate city center, which is home to many tourist attractions. The Minamikayabe Hirome Boat Festival, held here in early June, is a festival to give thanks for the fishing port and the bountiful seafood, and to pray for a good catch. As such, there are many events related to boats and fishing ports, such as boat races and boat parades. There are also performances of local traditional arts, offering an opportunity to learn about the history of Minamikayabe.

The name of the festival comes from "Hirome," the name of a type of kelp that is a specialty of Minami-Kayabe. If you see it in a shop, please consider buying it as a souvenir.

<Minami Kayabe Hirome Boat Festival>
Venue: Usujiri Fishing Port
TEL: 0138-25-5119 (Minami Kayabe Hirome Boat Festival Executive Committee Secretariat)
Date: The second Saturday of June (June 10th in 2017)
Official website: http://www.city.hakodate.hokkaido.jp/docs/2016042200078/

Kaminokuni Town is located on the western side of the Oshima Peninsula. It takes nearly two hours by car from downtown Hakodate. It is surrounded by views of the Pacific Ocean and lush forests.

The Iōzan Festival in Kaminokuni Town, held in mid-June, is a festival of the Iōzan Shrine located on a hill in Kaminokuni Town.

Various events, such as a banba (traditional Japanese horse racing) competition and a quiz rally, will be held, centered around the special venue on Iōzan Mountain, but the highlight is undoubtedly the torchlight procession. Local children march from Kaminokuni Hachimangu Shrine to Iōzan Shrine, carrying torches, creating a solemn atmosphere. Around this time, the Ezo azaleas are in full bloom on Iōzan Mountain. Enjoy the beautiful scenery not only at night when the torchlight procession takes place, but also during the day.

<Iouzan Festival in Kaminokuni Town>
Venue: Iōzan Special Venue
TEL: 0139-55-3955 (Kaminokuni Town Tourism Association)
Dates: Mid-September (September 17th-18th in 2017)
Official website:http://www.kaminokuni.jp/event/event_iouzan.html

Onuma Quasi-National Park, a popular scenic spot on the outskirts of Hakodate, is famous for its view of Mount Komagatake, with its beautiful mountain slopes visible across the large lake.

In July, a festival takes place in Onuma Quasi-National Park. It's called the Onuma Lake Festival. This festival has a long tradition, having been held since 1906, for over 100 years. Various events are held, such as children's taiko drumming and Japanese dance, but the fireworks launched over the lake are one of the must-see events.

On the first day, a lantern procession and lantern floating ceremony take place. It began when a local Buddhist priest floated lanterns on the lake to commemorate those who had drowned, but now anyone can participate if they register in advance.

The sight of lanterns floating on the lake is magical, creating an atmosphere that draws you in. In this scenery, we peacefully remember those who have passed away.

Furthermore, the period from July to August, when the Onuma Lake Festival is held, is also the blooming season for water lilies. The sight of the green leaves floating on the lake surface and the elegant pink flowers is a view you definitely shouldn't miss.

<Onuma Lake Water Festival>
Venue: Onuma Park Plaza
TEL: 0138-67-3020 (Nanae-Onuma International Tourism Convention Association)
Dates: Late July (July 22nd-23rd in 2017)
Official website: http://onumakouen.com/event_jp/934/

August in Hakodate begins with the Hakodate Port Festival. While many events and festivals have varying dates depending on the day of the week, the Hakodate Port Festival has fixed dates every year, from August 1st to 5th.

The festival kicks off on the first day with the Doshin Fireworks Display, held in the evening. The fireworks are launched from Midori-no-shima, an artificial island floating in Hakodate Bay. Therefore, they can be viewed from various spots around Hakodate Bay, as well as from hotel rooms and restaurants facing the bay. You can also view them from the summit of Mount Hakodate, making it a recommended spot to enjoy the fireworks along with the night view.

On the 2nd and 3rd, the Wasshoi Hakodate parade will be held in different locations each day. This parade is divided into three parts, with the first part being a procession of the Hakodate Port Dance. This dance has been performed at summer festivals in Hakodate for a long time. The parade has many highlights, including decorated trams adorned with lights and floats created with ingenuity by the participating groups.

Following Part 1, Part 2 will feature children's squid dancing and a summer carnival, and Part 3 will showcase the Hakodate squid dancing. The summer carnival is free-form in both dance and music. It's exciting to wonder what kind of dance the next group will perform!

The Hakodate Squid Dance is a familiar dance known to everyone living in Hakodate. Its simple choreography makes it accessible to a wide range of people, from young children to the elderly. The final part of the three-part Hakodate Squid Dance is a free-participation section. After watching the parade and mastering the squid dance, why not join in and create a memorable summer memory in Hakodate?

<Hakodate Port Festival>
Location: Hakodate city center (Jujigai, Hakodate Station area, Horikawa-cho, Honcho)
TEL: 0138-27-3535 (Hakodate Port Festival Executive Committee)
Event dates: August 1st - 5th
Official website: http://www.hakodate-minatomatsuri.org/

I've introduced four summer festivals that I highly recommend you check out if you visit Hakodate in the summer. What do you think?

Each festival has its own unique character, and there are many different ways to enjoy them. The next time you travel to Hakodate, be sure to create some wonderful memories at a summer festival!

Please also check out these related articles.

• 

  Try curling in Hokkaido! Curling halls where you can easily try it and things you should know

• 

  A collection of Tokachi's gourmet food and shops! We'll tell you about the charm and ways to enjoy Tokachi Village♪

• 

  Traveling to Hokkaido during the New Year holidays! Event and business information and recommendations summarized!

• 

  [Highlights, Seasons, Hotels] Let us introduce you to the charms of Asahidake Onsen!

• 

  Enjoy Tokachi wine with all your senses! Let's go to Ikeda Wine Castle!

• 

  When you're in Noboribetsu, this is a must-see! How to enjoy Jigokudani (Hell Valley) [Noboribetsu Onsen]

• 

  Siesta Hakodate is born! A thorough analysis of the new face of Hakodate and Goryokaku♪

• 

  Enjoy nature without leaving Sapporo! A recommended short hike up Maruyama Mountain.

Introducing our sister site (please check it out if you're interested)