Towada: Art, Culture and Tradition

Towada combines art in the city center with cultural sites and events that showcase different sides of the destination. The Towada Art Center and the walkable art district focus on art and architecture. Inaoigawa Walk and the Towada Autumn Festival, by contrast, are rooted in history and specific event formats. If you are considering Towada as a destination, these differences can help you choose the focus of your stay.

Getting to the Towada Art Center

About half of the buses from Shichinohe-Towada go directly to the Towada Art Center; the others go to the city center. From there, the museum is about a ten-minute walk away. This gives you two different bus options for getting to the art center: a direct ride or a ride to the city center followed by a walk. As bus services may change, check the current bus service before your trip.

Art and Architecture in the City Center

You can explore an art district on foot in central Towada. Start at the Towada Art Center, from which you can reach outdoor art and notable architecture. The museum’s permanent exhibition includes site-specific commissioned works by internationally active artists that can be seen in Towada, including works by Yayoi Kusama and Ron Mueck. A visit brings different artistic perspectives together: works in the museum and outdoor art in the art district. Architecture is also one of the subjects to take in on a walk around the city center. Individual exhibition content may change.

Towafuru and Kanchogai Street

The Towada Regional Exchange Center, also known as Towafuru, is located at the intersection of Kanchogai Street and Towada’s central shopping street. It has a gallery, multipurpose rooms and a courtyard for arts and cultural activities. These spaces give the center different venues for its cultural offerings. The exterior also features the mural “光と遊ぶ石たち” (“Stones Playing with Light”) by Hiraku Suzuki.

Kanchogai Street is also a landmark in its own right in the city center: it is one of the streets recognized as one of Japan’s 100 Selected Roads. Together with Towafuru’s location at the intersection of the street and the central shopping street, it provides a clear reference point for this part of Towada.

Events with Historical Connections

Inaoigawa Walk is a walking event held since 2001. It recalls the history of the Inaoigawa waterway and the development of the Sanbongi Plateau, and honors the achievements of 新渡戸傳 and others. Its focus is therefore on the waterway, the development of the plateau and the people whose achievements are commemorated. Dates may change; if the walk is important to your travel plans, check the schedule in advance.

The Towada Autumn Festival originated as a harvest prayer festival held during the development of Sanbongihara at the end of the Edo period. The three-day event features festive parades, dances, elaborate floats and impressive taiko drum floats that travel through the city streets. The festival’s historical roots and present-day format give a visit a different focus from the art in the city center. Dates and program details may change; if you would like to plan your stay around the festival, check the latest event information.

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