Towada City Guide
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（Japanese only）
Kanchogai Avenue (Nickname: "Komakai-Do")
Kanchogai Avenue (Nickname: "Komakai-Do")
Kanchogai Avenue is the symbolic road of Towada City. It is a particularly beautiful thoroughfare among Towada's streets, which are neatly laid out in a grid pattern.
Towada City prospered as a horse-rearing area. Soon after the end of WWII, land of the former Military Horse Replenishment Department was opened and developed as a site for government offices. National, prefectural, and city government offices line the road on both sides, and the area is designated as an office district under the City Planning Law.
The 1.1 km long and 36-meter-wide thoroughfare is lined with four rows of cherry and pine trees. The cherry blossoms and illuminations bring color to the area in spring and winter, respectively.
On both sides of the path, there are horse sculptures and water streams that each represent the Oirase Gorge and the Inaoi River. On the south side of the trail, 161 stone plates inscribed with tanka, haiku, and senryu poems are embedded in the ground, allowing visitors to enjoy the local culture and arts as they walk.
In 1986, it was selected as one of the "100 Best Roads in Japan" due to its enduring popularity among citizens as a festival and event site.
Arts Towada
The Towada Art Project is an art-based urban development project that envisions the entire Kancho-dori as a single museum, creating a space where many people can enjoy and interact with a variety of art.
The city is lined with numerous pieces of street furniture and buildings designed by renowned architects, creating a world of art that unfolds from the Towada Art Center.
❶Towada Art Center
Designed by NISHIZAWA Ryue
❷Civic Center Plaza "Toware"
Designed by KUMA Kengo
❸Civic Library
Designed by ANDO Tadao
❹Towada City Community Center "Towafuru"
Designed by FUJIMOTO Sosuke
Art in the City
❶SUZUKI Hiraku, Stones Playing with Lights
❷KONDO Tetsuo, pot
❸HIDAKA Erika, cloud
❹KOBAYASHI Yasuhiko, High Sky
❺LIU Jianhua, Mark In The Space
❻Maider LÓPEZ, TWELVE LEVEL BENCH
❼MOUNT FUJI ARCHITECTS STUDIO, in flakes
❽SUZUKI Yasuhiro, Quantum Apples
❾Layla Juma A. RASHID, Worms-A
❿MOTOYAMA Hiroko, Yokodori
Sculptures, Monuments, etc.
❶❼OMORI Tatsuro, Horseshoe motif road sign
❷SATO Churyo, Kaze(Wind)
❸YAMAMOTO Masamichi, The Way Back
❹SATO Churyo, Early Fern
❺⓫OMORI Tatsuro, Saddle-shaped historical information board
❻OMORI Tatsuro, Curiosity
❽Site of the former Military Horse Replenishment Department
❾SUZUKI Toru, Compassion
❿KOBATAKE Hiroshi, Carillon
⓬MINETA Toshiro, With Light and Wind
Event Information
Spring Festival
(Around late April)
The event is held in the Kanchogai Avenue and Central Park area.
During the festival, the City Hall observation terrace is opened to the public, and visitors can enjoy the cherry blossoms and city art at the same time, as well as nighttime illuminations and other views of Towada that are only available during this time of year.
Summer Festival Fireworks Display
(August 14)
This is an unusual fireworks display for Japan in that the fireworks are launched in the center of the city.
On the day of the event, spectator seats are set up in the athletic field, and the Kanchogai Avenue sidewalks are lined with numerous stalls creating a lively atmosphere.
Fall Festival
(Around early September)
This is the largest festival in Towada City.
On Saturday, the second day of the festival, nighttime floats are paraded along Kanchogai Avenue and there is contest for performing Towada-bayashi, traditional Japanese festival music. Visitors can enjoy the gorgeously decorated floats and splendid drumming performances.
Arts Towada Winter Illuminations
(From mid-December)
Blue LED lights cover the entire art square like a carpet of light, creating a fantastic world. The various artworks take on a different appearance from the daytime, fascinating visitors.
https://www.city.towada.lg.jp/kanko/event/arts-towada-winter-illumination.html
Click here for Towada City sightseeing pamphlets
Some pamphlets may only be available in Japanese.
More Information
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