Semboku, Akita · KamihinokinaiNo.1286★★Open in map →

Kamihinokinai Paper Balloon Festival

cultureOff the trail — and worth it

On 10 February each year, the village of Kamihinokinai in Semboku, Akita, sends giant painted paper balloons into the winter night. The fire lit in each one lifts it off the snow, and it glows as it climbs.

FromKakunodate Station
~45 minAkita Nairiku Line
Get off atKamihinokinai Station (Akita Nairiku Line)
On foot
Kamihinokinai Paper Balloon Festival

Directions ↗

The sweet spot

This is a well-known winter event in Akita, not a hidden one. What is easy to miss is how the day runs: the launches begin before dark and build through the evening. The other catch is the trip in. The only railway is the small Akita Nairiku Line, and heavy snow has stopped it before.

Where it is

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What to look for — in walking order

Kamihinokinai Stationsmall station on the Akita Nairiku Line, a short walk from the plaza
Kamifusen Hirobaopen ground beside Route 105 where the balloons are filled and launched
The painted balloons3 to 8 m tall, the largest up to 12 m, painted with warriors and classical beauties
The wish balloonsballoons inscribed with wishes for a good harvest, good health, family safety and business

How to actually get there

Kakunodate Station → Kamihinokinai Station (Akita Nairiku Line; the city estimates about 45 min).
Kamihinokinai Station → Kamifusen Hiroba plaza (walk about 7 min).
Arrive while it is still light to see the first balloons go up, then stay for the launches after dark.
Walk back to the station for the Nairiku Line to Kakunodate, having checked the last train in advance.

Akita Nairiku Line from Kakunodate: From Kakunodate Station, take the Akita Nairiku Line north to Kamihinokinai Station. The city puts the trip from Kakunodate at about 45 minutes. The balloon plaza is a 7-minute walk from the station.
Back to Kakunodate on the Nairiku Line: Walk back to Kamihinokinai Station and ride the Akita Nairiku Line south to Kakunodate. The launches go on into the evening, so look up the last train on the operator's timetable before you set out.

Directions from my location (Google Maps) ↗

About the place

Kamihinokinai is a district of Nishiki in Semboku, on Route 105 and the Akita Nairiku Line. On festival day its open plaza fills with giant paper balloons. Each one is lit with a flame, and the fire warms the air inside. Once the air is hot enough, the balloon lifts off the snow, still glowing, and climbs into the winter sky. Before launch, people write their wishes on the paper.

How to enjoy it

Arrive in the late afternoon, when the first balloons go up against a pale sky. The launches carry on after dark, when the flame turns each one into a giant lantern. The event is held outdoors on a winter field, so dress for snow and cold. The city posts each year's programme ahead of the day.

Background & history

The launch is a Little New Year (koshogatsu) rite that has run for more than a century, and Semboku City lists it as an intangible folk cultural property. Its origin is uncertain, but a local story points to Hiraga Gennai, the Edo-period scientist. He is said to have passed on the hot-air principle as a pastime while visiting the region to advise on copper mining. True or not, the same principle still lifts the balloons today.

Before you go

Cash: The city's 2026 notice listed no charge for watching the launches. Festival parking was provided, but the city recommended coming by train.
Good to know: Everything happens outdoors on a snowfield in midwinter. Heavy snow can stop the Akita Nairiku Line: in 2026, days before the festival, the city announced that the snowbound section toward Kakunodate would not reopen in time. That year the hall beside the plaza was also under repair after flood damage, with no heating and parts closed off. Check the city's notice for the current year.
Another way: From the north, the same Akita Nairiku Line runs down from Takanosu. By car, the plaza lies on Route 105, but the city has warned of long queues on festival day.
After you get off: From Kamihinokinai Station, walk about 7 minutes to the Kamifusen Hiroba plaza beside Route 105, where the balloons are launched.