The 61st Lake Towada Water Festival (第61回十和田湖湖水まつり) will be held at Yasumiya — the main tourism hub on the shores of Lake Towada — on Saturday, June 13, 2026. This year holds special significance as Lake Towada marks its 90th anniversary as a designated national park. The festival runs from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM, with activities available throughout the day and into the evening.
The highlight of the night is a balloon lantern release paired with underwater and aerial fireworks, transforming the lake into a scene of glowing light. Guests can also watch the spectacle from the water on a night cruise. During the day, food stalls, live performances, art exhibitions, and a visit to Towada Shrine keep the venue lively from morning through evening.
Paid activities — the Towada Lake Melty Light balloon lantern experience, the Towada Lake Night Cruise, and the Message Fireworks — require advance reservations, which can be made online.
Event Details
Date: Saturday, June 13, 2026, 11:00 AM–9:00 PM
(The event may be postponed to Sunday, June 14, or cancelled in the event of bad weather.)
Venue: Towada Lakeside Yasumiya (十和田湖畔休屋)
Official Website: https://kosuimaturi.com/
Timetable
- 11:00 AM – Ichinomiya Festival Fair opens
- 3:00 PM – Performer Stage begins (until 6:30 PM)
- 5:30 PM – Towada Lake Melty Light balloon lantern exchange starts (until 7:30 PM)
- 8:00 PM – Towada Lake Night Cruise boarding begins (until 8:10 PM)
- 8:15 PM – Towada Lake Melty Light release / Night Cruise departs
- 8:30 PM – Message Fireworks launch
- 8:45 PM – Lake Water Fireworks launch
- 9:00 PM – All events conclude
Festival Contents
Ichinomiya Festival Fair
Food vendors, kitchen cars, and tent stalls fill the Ichinomiya area, creating a lively retro festival atmosphere lit up by traditional lanterns.
Location: Ichinomiya Area
Hours: 11:00 AM–9:00 PM
Performer Stage
Live music and performances take place at the Mannaka Hiroba, providing a relaxed spot to take a break as you explore the venue.
Location: Mannaka Hiroba (across from Towada Shokudo)
Hours: 3:00 PM–6:30 PM
Kazaranai Towada Exhibition & Walking Tour
Posters from the "Kazaranai Towada" (Unadorned Towada) series are displayed throughout the venue, including at Kissa Ikoi café and Towada Shrine. A simultaneous walking tour challenges visitors to find locations featured in the posters, with a prize available for those who complete it.
Location: Towada Lake Tourism Exchange Center "Puratto" 2F
Hours: 11:00 AM–8:00 PM
Towada Shrine Limited Goshuin
A special goshuin (shrine stamp) designed for the Water Festival is available in limited quantities at Towada Shrine on the day of the event — a memorable keepsake from a lakeside stroll.
Location: Towada Shrine
Hours: 11:00 AM–5:00 PM
Offering: ¥500
Find the Hidden Dragon God!
Lake Towada and Towada Shrine are steeped in dragon lore. Dragon-motif "hidden dragon god" figures are tucked away inside lanterns and decorations throughout the festival grounds — look for them as you walk around the Ichinomiya area and Mannaka Hiroba.
Location: Ichinomiya Area and around Mannaka Hiroba (across from Towada Shokudo)
Hours: 11:00 AM–8:00 PM
Towada Lake Melty Light (Reservation Required)
Participants launch a one-of-a-kind balloon lantern into the sky above the lake, filling both the sky above and the water below with light. Reservations are accepted online.
Reservations: https://widgets.bokun.io/online-sales/79947ef5-7f89-48d8-8dff-e4331c6817ce/experience/1197980
Towada Lake Night Cruise (Reservation Required)
Watch the balloon lanterns and fireworks from the lake itself. The night cruise offers a premium view of the evening's grand finale, available only to those with reservations.
Reservations: https://widgets.bokun.io/online-sales/79947ef5-7f89-48d8-8dff-e4331c6817ce/experience/1200662
Message Fireworks (Reservation Required)
Send a personal firework into the night sky over Lake Towada. This year, a recorded voice message from each participant will be broadcast over the venue. Reservations are required.
Reservations: https://widgets.bokun.io/online-sales/79947ef5-7f89-48d8-8dff-e4331c6817ce/experience/1203172
Lake Water Fireworks
Underwater fireworks and aerial set-pieces light up the lake to the soundtrack of Mrs. GREEN APPLE's hit song "Boku no Koto," bringing the festival to a breathtaking close in a scene where sky and water seem to merge into one.
Location: Omoi no Hiroba (plaza in front of the pier)
Hours: 8:45–8:50 PM
