The 40th Hokuto Asao Daikon Festival (第40回北杜市浅尾ダイコンまつり) will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026 (a national holiday, Culture Day), from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The main venue is the lawn plaza at Heidi's Village Clara-kan (ハイジの村クララ館) in Asao, Akeno-cho, Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture. The festival is organized by the Hokuto Asao Daikon Festival Executive Committee and supported by Hokuto City.
About Asao Daikon and the Festival
Asao daikon is grown in the volcanic ash soil at the foot of Mt. Kayagatake and is known for being low in harshness and tender. The festival is a chance to enjoy this local daikon, with the popular daikon-pulling experience and a range of other events.
The main venue is the lawn plaza at Heidi's Village Clara-kan (5259-950 Asao, Akeno-cho, Hokuto City). The daikon-pulling experience takes place at a special venue in Asao, Akeno-cho (5379), about 700 m north of Heidi's Village along the Kayagatake Wide-Area Farm Road.
Daikon-Pulling Experience
This year's daikon-pulling experience requires advance reservations.
- Fee: ¥1,500. Each participant receives one bag and can take home as much daikon as fits in it.
- Sessions and capacity: 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM, and 11:00 AM, with 400 participants per session (first-come, first-served, 400 bags per session). Reception opens 30 minutes before each session starts.
- Reservation period: From 9:00 AM on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, to 5:00 PM on Monday, October 26, 2026.
- How to reserve: Reservations are accepted via QR code or URL, or by phone.
Reservations close once capacity is reached, but if spaces remain, same-day sign-ups are also possible.
The parking lot is about 700 m from the daikon-pulling venue, so bringing a cart or similar to carry the daikon is recommended. The experience may be canceled due to weather or other conditions.
Reserve the daikon-pulling experience here: Hokuto City reservation page
Stage Events and More
Planned at the main venue are the following, among others:
- Akeno Soran 2026 (明野ソーラン2026), performed by third- and fourth-graders of Akeno Elementary School
- Akeno Taiko Preservation Society (明野茅ヶ嶺太鼓保存会)
- Live performances
- Hokuto High School Calligraphy Club
- Hokuto City Fire Corps Headquarters bugle band
- Shukuran (淑蘭)
- Hokuto High School Guitar Club
- Open-air market (青空市場)
Access
By train and bus, take the Kayagatake Mizugaki Denen Bus (茅ヶ岳みずがき田園バス) bound for Mizugaki Sanso from JR Nirasaki Station. The main venue is about 25 minutes away; get off at "Heidi's Village Clara-kan-mae" (ハイジの村クララ館前). For the daikon-pulling venue, take the same bus and get off at "Kayagatake/Kanegatake Trailhead Entrance" (茅ヶ岳・金ヶ岳登山道入口). By taxi, it is about 20 minutes from JR Chuo Line Nirasaki Station.
By car, the venue is about 15 minutes from Nirasaki IC on the Chuo Expressway when coming from the Tokyo direction, and about 15 minutes from Sutama IC when coming from the Nagano or Nagoya direction.
Event Details
Date and Time: Tuesday, November 3, 2026 (national holiday, Culture Day), 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Main Venue: Lawn plaza at Heidi's Village Clara-kan (5259-950 Asao, Akeno-cho, Hokuto City)
Daikon-Pulling Venue: Special venue in Asao, Akeno-cho, Hokuto City (5379 Asao, Akeno-cho)
Daikon-Pulling Experience: Advance reservation required; ¥1,500 per bag; 400 participants per session (sessions at 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM, and 11:00 AM)
Reservation Period: 9:00 AM on October 7, 2026 (Wednesday), to 5:00 PM on October 26, 2026 (Monday)
Organizer: Hokuto Asao Daikon Festival Executive Committee
Supported by: Hokuto City
