2026 Nishikawa Summer Festival: A Full-Day Course
This course centers on the Nishikawa Summer Festival (にしかわ夏祭り) held on Saturday, July 25, 2026, letting you enjoy a full day in Nishikawa Town (西川町), Yamagata Prefecture (山形県), spread out at the foot of Mt. Gassan (月山). At midday, experience the famous spring water at the roadside station Michi-no-Eki Nishikawa Gassan Meisuikan (道の駅にしかわ月山銘水館), and in the afternoon relax by the dam lake at Lake Gassako (月山湖), then wash off your sweat with a soak at Mizusawa Onsenkan (水沢温泉館). From 4:00 p.m., the summer festival begins around the venue, Nishikawa Exchange Center Aibe (西川交流センターあいべ); enjoy the bon-odori dancing and night stalls while waiting for the show to begin. About 5,000 fireworks shells light up the night sky, and the mountain-valley summer festival continues until 9:00 p.m. It's a one-day plan unique to the foot of Mt. Gassan, letting you fully enjoy famous water, hot springs, and fireworks all in one.
Schedule
A roadside station where you can experience Mt. Gassan's spring water and local specialties
Take in the mountain-ringed scenery by the dam lake
Take a break and wash off your sweat at a local hot spring facility
A shrine with the former main hall of Nichigetsu-ji Temple, designated a National Important Cultural Property. Its wooden architecture, among the largest in the Tohoku region, is well worth seeing.
A summer festival bustling with bon-odori dancing and night stalls; watch about 5,000 fireworks shells at night
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