61st Towadako Lake Water Festival Set for June 13, 2026

The 61st Towadako Lake Water Festival (十和田湖湖水まつり) is scheduled for Saturday, June 13, 2026, at Towadako-han Yasumiya. The festival is organized by the Towadako Kōsui Matsuri Executive Committee, with its secretariat at the Towada Oirase Tourism Organization.

A Single-Day Festival at a Historic Milestone

The Towada-Hachimantai region received its national park designation on February 1, 1936, and celebrates its 90th anniversary this year. The area encompasses a diverse range of natural landscapes, including volcanoes, caldera lakes, primeval forests, and gorges.

The Towadako Lake Water Festival has traditionally been held over two days at Towadako-han Yasumiya. However, due to rising costs and labor shortages, securing the necessary operational funding has become extremely difficult, and cancellation was at one point considered. Drawing on the pride of having continued the festival for 60 consecutive years through earthquakes and the COVID-19 pandemic, and a strong desire to celebrate this significant 90th anniversary milestone within the local community, the executive committee held repeated discussions and ultimately decided to condense the event into a single day for this year.

Generational Change and Continuity Under New Chairman Shimoyama

This year, with a focus on restructuring the event and passing the baton to the next generation, Masato Shimoyama (of Godo Kaisha Maru-Tetsu) has taken on the role of new chairman. Shimoyama runs a restaurant along the shores of Lake Towada and grew up immersed in the energy of this festival. He expressed his commitment to preserving the heritage of his hometown.

"There were strong voices saying we should cancel it, but I was concerned that once we stopped, it would be very difficult to revive. The content and format of the festival may change with the times. However, I feel very strongly that the name 'Towadako Lake Water Festival' must not disappear."

Carrying Lake Towada's Beauty into the Next Century

The Towada-Hachimantai region was designated a national park in 1936, recognized as one of Japan's most representative natural landscapes. Lake Towada is a remarkable double caldera lake, celebrated for its distinctive volcanic topography and quiet, serene beauty. Since the park's designation, the area has long drawn visitors for nature walks, scenic drives, boat cruises, and hot spring bathing.

Ninety years on from its national park designation, the festival aims to share the enduring and accessible beauty of Lake Towada with as many people as possible — beauty that has been preserved through careful conservation and thoughtful use of this treasured natural environment. In this important year, as the community looks to carry that legacy through to the next 100 years, the Towadako Kōsui Matsuri Executive Committee is actively preparing for the event. Details on programming and ticketed content will be announced in phases from April onward.