Event has ended】2026 the latest information! Enjoy candy stalls and Akita dog parade in Akita, the hometown of loyal dog Hachiko [Odate Amekkoichi].

  • Akita
  • Sightseeing
An Akita dog parade is also held!
The Odate Amekko Market, held every February in Odate City, Akita Prefecture, is a winter event in Odate City that has continued for about 400 years. Many tourists from inside and outside of the prefecture visit this event, as it is said that if you eat candy on the day of Amekkoichi, you will not catch a cold. The following is an introduction to this well-known festival, which is a representative winter tradition of Odate.

What kind of festival is Odate Amekkoichi?

Amekkoichi is said to have originated around 1588 (Tensho 16), and has been a winter event in Odate City for about 440 years. Although it was a folk event when it was first held, it has continued to be held for many years, and since 1972, it has been held on Omachi Hachikou-dori as it is today.

The stalls on Omachi Hachiko Dori are lined with candy branches decorated with small candies on the ends of the branches of mizuki trees. There is a legend that if you eat candy on the day of this Amekko Market, you will not catch a cold, and many people eat the candy sold to stay healthy and live each day. At the stores, colorful candies such as cut candies, crafted candies, and decorated branch candies are sold, making it a fun event to see, buy, and eat. In addition to the sale of candy, various events are held for the enjoyment of visitors, including a parade of the Great White Bearded God, an Akita dog parade, a display of jumbo branch candies, and a karami candy service.
The "Shirohige Ojin Parade," which recreates the legend that the god of the mountain comes to buy candy.

Types of open-air candy

About 80 candy stores line Ohmachi Hachiko Street. In addition to the most popular branch candy, there are many other types of candy with different tastes and appearances. There are flavors such as crafted candy, sesame, hacca, shiso, banana, etc. Each candy is sold in sachets or in small bags. Each candy is sold in small bags, and some candy is sold individually, making it easy to purchase.
Candy is attached to the branches of mizuki trees to resemble ears of rice

Fluffy Akita Inu gather in large numbers! Akita Inu Parade."

Odate City is the hometown of Hachiko, the loyal dog, and is also the birthplace of the Akita Inu (Akita dog), where the headquarters of the Akita Inu Preservation Society is located. For this reason, the Odate Amekko Market has established the Akita Inu Parade, which is appreciated by tourists, dog lovers, and Akita Inu fans visiting from all over Japan. At the parade, visitors can see Akita Inu up close and personal, and they are just adorable! Why not visit the Odate Amekko Market to see the fluffy Akita Inu?
Akita dogs walking on the runway in front of many tourists
It's nice to see them up close♪
Click here for a video of Akita Inu Parade (Odate City's official YouTube channel)
For more information about Odate Amekko Market

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