Aomoriya by Hoshino Resorts, a hot spring inn where guests can fully enjoy Aomori's culture, will hold the "Wattsudo Kaiun Matsuri" again this year from December 3, 2026 to March 7, 2027. The event invites good fortune through experiences tied to the blessings of the Seven Lucky Gods. Two programs are new this year: "Dettada Hoteison Fukuwarai," themed around Hoteison, and "Daikokuten's Bountiful Harvest Lucky Bag," a winter fortune-testing game. Guests can also try the "Single-Line Tuna Fishing Omikuji," in which a tuna made with Nebuta techniques is reeled in to tell your fortune, and the "Nebuta Seven Lucky Gods Tour," a stamp-collecting activity.
Notes: "Wattsudo" is an Aomori dialect word meaning "to the fullest," and "Dettada" is an Aomori dialect word meaning "big."
Feature 1: Seven "Nebuta Seven Lucky Gods" Welcoming Guests
The Seven Lucky Gods are known as deities who bring good fortune. At Jawamegu Plaza, a public space at Aomoriya, seven Nebuta figures appear to greet guests: Ebisuten, Daikokuten, Bishamonten, Benzaiten, Hoteison, Fukurokuju, and Jurojin. The figures were created by Nebuta artists Ryusei Uchiyama and Ryuho Tatsuta. Guests can see the Nebuta Seven Lucky Gods up close and take commemorative photos.
Note: "Jawamegu" is an Aomori dialect word describing a feeling of excitement, or a lively and fun atmosphere.
Time: All day
Location: Jawamegu Plaza
Price: Free
Feature 2: NEW "Dettada Hoteison Fukuwarai" Themed Around One of the Seven Lucky Gods
Hoteison is known for the blessings of "laughter brings good fortune" and a harmonious household, and the new "Dettada Hoteison Fukuwarai" is themed around this god. On a fan-shaped neputa about 2 meters tall, players place parts as large as their own faces while blindfolded, and work with family and friends to complete a cheerful, fortunate-looking face.
Time: All day
Location: Jawamegu Plaza
Price: Free
Feature 3: NEW "Daikokuten's Bountiful Harvest Lucky Bag" for Testing Your Winter Luck
Themed around Daikokuten's blessing of a bountiful harvest, the new "Daikokuten's Bountiful Harvest Lucky Bag" lets guests test their luck in winter. Players flick the lever of a vertical Smart Ball machine to launch a ball, and the hole it lands in decides which lucky bag they receive. Each bag matches the blessing of one of the gods and contains a local Aomori sake and a Tsugaru-bidoro sake cup, so guests can enjoy finding out which fortune they draw.
Time: 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Location: Jawamegu Plaza
Price: ¥3,000 (tax included)
Note: Limited quantity
Other Programs to Enjoy Winter in Aomori
Single-Line Tuna Fishing Omikuji: Reel In Your Fortune
Inspired by Ebisuten, the god of fishing, the "Single-Line Tuna Fishing Omikuji" guests use a fishing rod to reel in a tuna made with Nebuta techniques. Each catch comes with an omikuji fortune named after a cut of tuna, such as Otoro (Daikichi, "great luck") or Chutoro (Chukichi, "middle luck"). Guests who draw Otoro receive an original sticker with a big-catch flag design.
Time: 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Location: Jawamegu Plaza
Price: Exchanged for a Jawamegu Plaza Experience Ticket (paid)
Nebuta Seven Lucky Gods Tour: Collect Luck with Original Stamps
This activity is inspired by the Seven Lucky Gods pilgrimage, a custom long observed in the Tsugaru region at the turn of the year. Guests visit seven spots inside the hotel to collect seven kinds of stamps and complete a stamp book as a personal good-luck charm. The stamp book can be taken home in a drawstring pouch illustrated with the Seven Lucky Gods.
Stamp Book Sales Time: 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Activity Time: All day
Stamp Book Sales Location: Jawamegu Plaza
Price: Exchanged for a Jawamegu Plaza Experience Ticket (paid)
Wattsudo Kaiun Matsuri Overview
Period: December 3, 2026 to March 7, 2027
Target: Hotel guests
Note: Please refer to each program for details. Program details may change or be canceled depending on circumstances.
Aomoriya by Hoshino Resorts
With the concept "Noresore (meaning 'to the fullest' in Aomori dialect) Aomori - Hito Monogatari (People's Stories)," this hot spring inn lets guests fully enjoy Aomori's festivals, dialect, and culture. The grounds cover approximately 220,000 tsubo and are surrounded by nature, and a variety of activities are available in each season inside the hotel.
Location: 56 Furumakiyama, Misawa City, Aomori Prefecture 033-0044
Number of Rooms: 236 rooms
Check-in/Check-out: 3:00 PM / 12:00 PM
Room Rate: From ¥24,800 per person per night (two guests sharing a room, tax included, with dinner and breakfast)
Access: Approximately 15-minute walk from Aoimori Railway Misawa Station, approximately 20 minutes by car from Misawa Airport
Website: https://hoshinoresorts.com/ja/hotels/aomoriya/
