Kitamura Inaka Festival

Festival highlights

Highlights include the Wāruzo Cup water-balloon competition, contested by teams of 2, and a race across rafts set up in a pond at the venue.

The Numaue Rapid-Fire Fireworks Festival closes the evening, and the view of approximately 2,000 fireworks reflected in the pond is also highlighted.

Enjoy direct sales of local produce and Kitamura’s specialty loach dishes at the open-air market, as well as food stalls and live performances.

A summer community festival celebrating Kitamura’s waterside scenery and harvest

What to expect

The event features competitions and races, a mikoshi procession, stage performances, an open-air market, and more.

In the Wāruzo Cup, one participant throws water balloons while their partner, wearing a helmet fitted with needles, pops them with their head. Teams compete to see how many they can pop in 20 seconds.

The Numaue Rapid-Fire Fireworks Festival takes place at night, making it possible to enjoy a series of local events from daytime through evening.

Source: 8月15日(土) 放送内容 ｜ 放送内容 ｜ ごきげんようじ ｜ ＳＴＶラジオ

How to take part

Visitors can watch the event.

必要人数：2人1組（わ～るぞカップ）

Location and access

Venue and address

Kitamura Central Park Fureai Plaza (156-7 Kitamura Akagawa, Iwamizawa City).

Train and bus

Take the JR Hakodate Main Line to Iwamizawa Station, then take the Iwamizawa–Tsukigata local bus from Iwamizawa Terminal to Kitamura Onsen bus stop, about 20 minutes away. The venue is a short walk from there.

The venue is a 1-minute walk from the “Kitamura Onsen-mae” stop on the Chuo Bus Kitamura Line or Tsukigata Line.

Parking

There is free parking for 1,000 vehicles.

Address 156-7 Kitamura Akagawa, Iwamizawa City, Hokkaido

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Dates and season

2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)

The festival is usually held in August; past listings show it taking place on the 3rd Saturday and Sunday of August.

The 2026 event was listed as running from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on August 15 (Saturday), with fireworks scheduled to start at 8 p.m.

The event date has already passed, but whether it actually took place needs to be confirmed separately.

Source: きたむら田舎フェスティバル2026｜北海道観光｜ぐうたび北海道

Accommodation and hotels PR

Tips for your visit

The program includes water-based events such as water-balloon contests, mikoshi carried through splashes of sacred water, and raft races held on the marsh.

It’s a good idea to plan your clothing and belongings in case you want to avoid getting wet.

If you plan to stay for the nighttime fireworks, please check in advance that they begin at 8 p.m. and how you will get back.

Origins and History of Kitamura Inaka Festival

The festival began in 1989 as an effort to create a new local event unique to Kitamura, surrounded by rice paddies, lakes, and marshes.

Kitamura has a history of enduring floods, and the festival includes the “Kachimizu Mikoshi,” which honors the courage of those who came before and prays for a bountiful harvest.

Even after Kitamura merged with Iwamizawa City in 2006, the festival has continued, carrying on the principles established before the merger.

Source: 北村のあゆみ／岩見沢市ホームページ

Official information

2026年の掲載ページでは、公式情報として「www.instagram.com↗」と「kappe-fes.com↗」が案内されています。

Details such as the venue, event hours, transportation, and parking are also provided.

Kitamura Inaka Festival at a Glance

The Kitamura Inaka Festival is a summer community event that celebrates the water- and agriculture-shaped character of Kitamura in Iwamizawa City.

Highlights include the Wāruzo Cup using water balloons, raft races, a mikoshi, an open-air market, live performances, and fireworks reflected in the pond.

The 2026 listing said the event would be held at Kitamura Central Park Fureai Plaza from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on August 15.