Akita

We drove up the day before, and got a hotel 2 blocks from where it all takes place.  With kids and stopping to run, it did take us a full day to rent the van, get caught in Tokyo traffic, and drive all the way up to Akita.  We passed a mountain that looks very much like Fuji.  Mt. Chokai was cool looking in the fading light of day.

Akita (pronounced AH-kee-tah) said that festivities started at 10.  Well, WE started partying at 10!

What it was was a couple displays and the like on the central plaza.  Local preschoolers were brought there.

Their form of transportation for the smallest kids totally cracks us up.  In the states, they'd be sitting down.  Here, they stand them up.  We think it is to train them to ride the trains, where only a few get seats, and the rest stand.  

This lady was selling ice cream, that she would shape into flower petals.  This was totally lost on the boys, who just ate it.

There is a lovely park there, which starts here, at their lotus pond.

The boys enjoyed running around more than looking at it, but we had all day!

Senshu Park has a reconstructed gate of Kubota Castle.

I am assuming this is one of the Satake clan, who were very powerful in the area for many years.

The Japanese garden part was very lovely.

Yojiro Inari Shrine.  You see me talking with the 'guide' that we picked up at the Satake Historical Museum.  We tried to communicate, and I misunderstood more than I understood, but every time he said Kubota (castle, what's famous) I would think of driving the Kubota tractors I used to drive!  :)

The wood working in Japan is so lovely.

Then we went to the Neburinagashi Kan.  The Kanto (lanterns on poles) and other festival floats museum.  We saw a show, and then WE got to try it!  Bottles for kids...

Smaller lanterns for me.  This was MUCH harder than I thought it would be!  Those kids behind me?  They make those large ones balance with ease on their back, shoulders, hips...  wow.

Tim got pretty good at it.  Amazing!