February 2014 Events in Towada

Towadako Winter Story
十和田湖冬物語 (Towadako Fuyu Monogatari)

Date: Friday, February 7- Sunday, March 2, 2014
Location: Lake Towada Yasumiya 十和田湖畔休屋
Admission: Free
Events/Attractions:

●冬花火 Fireworks 20:00~20:10 Daily

●光のゲート "Gate of Light" 17：00～21：00 Daily

●光のトンネル "Tunnel of Light" 17：00～21：00 Daily

●酒かま蔵 Sake Kamakura (Snow Hut) 19：00～21：00 Daily

●かまくらＢａｒ Kamakura Bar 18：00～21：00 Daily

●雪のすべり台 Snow Slide (sled rentals 100yen/hour)

●乙女の像ライトアップ "Light Up" of Otome no Zou (Bronze Maidens Statue) 17：00～21：00 Daily

●ゆきあかり横丁 Yuki Akari Yokocho (Alleyway Food Stands/Restaurants) 15：00～21：00 Weekdays; 11：00～21：00 Sat., Sun. & Holidays

●スペシャルステージ　（津軽三味線ほか） Special Stage (Tsugaru Shamisen, etc.) 19：00~20:00 Fri., Sat., Sun. & Holidays

●ホーストレッキング Horse Trekking 10：00~15:00 Sat., Sun. & Holidays

Towada Traditional Performing Arts Festival十和田伝統芸能まつり (Towada Dentou Geinou Matsuri)
Flyer Front / Back (Japanese)
 
Date: Sunday, February 9, 2014
Time: 11:00~16:00
Location: Towada Bunka Center 十和田市民文化センター
Admission: Free
Description: Watch traditional (performance) art performances from various areas of Towada, e.g. Kirida Kagura, Sawada Keimai, Takisawa Nanbu Koma Odori etc. 

KISS Buns

Today I finally got a chance to try the KISS-themed steamed bun. (See previous post for more details.)

Sadly the logo on my bun was rather off-centre...

I didn't get the rare design (which features all four of the other regular designs) for the wrapper, but I think I got Gene Simmons? (Other than the name and a vague image, I know absolutely nothing about KISS, in case you couldn't tell...)

The chili inside was quite shockingly bright red. There was chicken and some veggies (green pepper? sorry, can't remember!) inside so it felt heartier than I expected.

All in all, quite a tasty bun. It costs 128yen regularly, but until this Saturday, October 19, 2013 Circle K/ Sunkus has a steamed meat bun sale where all buns under 150yen are only 100yen (anything over 150yen is 20yen off) so it's a pretty good deal. Definitely worth a taste test. I might even go back for another one...

(See RocketNews24 for another fun review of the bun.)

KISS themed steamed bun on sale soon!

A KISS (as inthe band) themed steamed bun will go on sale at Sunkus/Circle K convenience stores on October 15, 2013.

The dough is black (apparently it has charcoal made from bamboo mixed into it) and is imprinted the the band's logo. There are 5 different paper wrapper designs, one of which is supposed to be "rare." The filling is 激辛チリトマト (gekikara chilli tomato)  which translates literally as "puking hot chilli & tomato."

Not a fan of the band, but I kind of want to try it just to see how spicy it actually is. =P

See RocketNews24 (article is in Japanese) for images and more information.

2013 Towada Yosakoi Yume Matsuri

Towada Yosakoi Yume Matsuri 2013 とわだYosakoi夢まつり
Date: September 29, 2013
Location: Around Kanchogai Street　官庁街通り周辺
Update: There are 3 "stages":
1) the parade route goes along Kanchogai Dori from the east end of the hospital to City hall,
2) in front of Sakura Hiroba (where the big horse shoe statue, fountain and public restroom facilities are)
3) in Chuo Koen (Central Park) just south of Sakura Hiroba.
(See map in Japanese here http://www.towada.or.jp/yosakoi/2013place.pdf).
From 10:00-13:00 performances will be along the parade route and in Chuo Koen. From 13:00 on performances are in front of Sakura Hiroba and in Chuo Koen.
Description: Lots of groups performing yosakoi--an energetic choreographed dance for large groups featuring the use of lots of props (fans, small wooden handheld clappers called naruko, umbrellas, etc.) and on-the-spot costume changes