Azalea Festival (mid - late May)
Tsurumine Park, known to be central Japan's best Azalea blossom site, is the host of this festival. 30,000 plants of 30 different kinds of red, purple, pink, and white azaleas bloom all at once, coloring the site in beautiful shades.
Okaya Taiko Drum Festival (August 13 - 14)
Followed by a round of preliminary drum beats through the city, the main band of drums parade through the streets. The highlight of the festival is the stage performance of 300 drums. It is an energetic event that can be experienced only in Okaya. The powerful beats seem to force the heat out of the hot summer.
Lantern Offerings and Fireworks (August 16)
A spectacular event held at Lake Suwa-ko that mark the season of obon (Buddhist holiday season during which the spirit of the dead is believed to visit their family) and the end of summer. 1,000 lanterns are released on Lake Suwa-ko to worship the ancestors. The offerings gently glide across the dark lake and make their way through Tenryu-gawa River while colorful fireworks reflect on the surface of Lake Suwa-ko.
Daruma Doll Festival (February)
The Daruma-do Hall in the city is filled with daruma dolls of different sizes. People can buy dolls as well as turn in their old ones for offerings. The daruma dolls are known to fall seven times and make eight recoveries. The good fortune of the dolls draw crowds each year.
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