Towada can be explored through two perspectives: art in the city center and events that recall the region’s history. To get to the Towada Art Center, about half of the buses from Shichinohe-Towada go directly to the museum; the rest go to the city center. From there, the museum is about a ten-minute walk away. As bus routes may change, check the current bus connections before you travel.

Discover Art in the City Center

You can explore an arts district in central Towada on foot. Start at the Towada Art Center; outdoor art and notable architecture are within reach from there. The arts district thus broadens the view beyond the museum: outdoor art and architecture are also among the features of the city center that visitors can explore.

The Towada Art Center’s permanent exhibition consists of commissioned works by internationally active artists, including Yayoi Kusama and Ron Mueck, created to be seen in Towada. This brings international artistic perspectives into a specific relationship with Towada. Individual exhibition content may change; if a particular work is important to your plans, check the latest exhibition information before your visit.

Cultural Venues and Streets in the City Center

The Towada Regional Exchange Center (Towafuru) is located at the intersection of Kanchogai Street and Towada’s central shopping street. Kanchogai Street is one of the streets recognized as one of the “100 Selected Streets of Japan.” This makes a prominent point in the city center part of a recognized street.

Towafuru has a gallery, multipurpose rooms, and a courtyard for arts and cultural activities. On the exterior facade is Hiraku Suzuki’s mural “光と遊ぶ石たち” (“Stones Playing with Light”). The rooms and courtyard provide different settings for cultural activities; the mural adds another perspective through art on the facade.

History in a Festival and a Walking Event

The Towada Autumn Festival (“十和田市秋まつり”) originated as a harvest prayer festival 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. Historical memory and festivities in public spaces thus come together.

The Inaoigawa Walk offers another way to engage with history. This walking event has been held since 2001. It recalls the history of the Inaoigawa water supply system and the development of the Sanbongi Plateau, and honors the achievements of 新渡戸傳 and others. While parades and floats define the character of the Towada Autumn Festival, the Walk focuses on hiking in connection with the water supply system and the area’s development.

This distinction can help you choose what to focus on: the arts district can be explored on foot, while the two history events offer different formats—a three-day festival and a walking event. Check the dates before your trip; details of the autumn festival program may also change.

Discover more destinations: Mutsu, Sotogahama, Nishitsugaru District, Ajigasawa, Hiranai, Hirakawa, Aomori, Hachinohe

For the full travel overview: Aomori Prefecture.