Official events /East Hokkaido grand harvest festivals/Shiretoko Natural World Heritage/For your relaxation! Lodging/Filling, satisfying! /Northern eateries/Outdoor Tours and Hands-on Activities  Official Events　〜Autumn〜 Abashiri Kando Morning Market Enjoy the in-season tastes of natural Abashiri Time period July 16 − Oct 15,2006 Place Abashiri City / Abashiri Fishing Harbour venue A "Fish Feast Fair" held simultaneously at the Morning Market Cafeteria, which utilizes local foodstuffs throughout. Seven varieties of local seafood chosen with the aim of creating an Abashiri City brand, prepared by influential city chefs from the Abashiri Japanese Cuisine Research Society. Enjoy the morning market, which can only be appreciated locally. Akan Iomante Fire Festival A fantastic experience as flames rise in the night sky Time period Oct 10 − Dec 2,2006 Place Lake Akan Hot Spring/ Ainu Kotan venue The largest event to be held after the"Marimo Festival," which began in 1998. Experience the culture of the indigenous people, who have lived hand-in-hand with nature since ancient times. The heroic narrative that adds colour to the Ainu culture, performed fantastically along with the burning flames in the night sky. Shiretoko Banya Festival 2006 A feast of impressive flavours direct from the sea Time period Oct 18 − Nov 18,2006 Place Shiretoko Utoro Hot Spring / Shiretoko Banya Festival venue Fresh seafood and mountain products of the customers'hoice, charcoal grilled to order. Relish the seafood grill amidst the atmosphere of a Shiretoko fisherman's "Banya" workplace. Enjoy Shiretoko to the full with magnificent nature and hearty cuisine. Tokachi Grand Harvest Festival Tokachi Autumn Sensation and Night Watching Time period Sep 23 − Oct 29,2006 Place Tokachigawa Hot Spring/ Tokachi Ecology Park A long-running event at which to enjoy the late autumn sky. Including Night Watching to enjoy the night sky; original soran and drum performances by local volunteers, intended for guest at the Tokachigawa Hot Spring hotels; tethered hot-air-balloon flights and a variety of Tokachi delicacies from farm stalls.  Official Events　〜Winter〜 Sounkyo Hyoubaku Matsuri (Ice Waterfall Festival) The festival flourishes as people gather at the foot of the Daisetsuzan Mountains where the gods descend. Time period Jan 27 − Mar 25,2007 Place Sounkyo Hot Spring / Hyoubaku Matsuri venue The Sounkyo Hyoubaku Matsuri makes full use of the natural environment of the deep gorge at the foot of the Daisetsuzan Range with its majestic mountain scenery. Held amidst the severe cold of February, when the water that falls from the columnar-jointed cliffs freezes to form a giant tower of ice. The magnificent flashes of fireworks vie for space in the sky during the fantastic festival finale. Discover the new lands of the North, in warm-hearted Abashiri Amuse yourself with winter activities on the snowy-white surface of Lake Abashiri. Time period Jan 27 − Mar 4,2007 Place Abashiri City / Lake Abashiri venue A snow maze, slides and the like emerge at the Yobitoura Campsite, further increasing the appeal of the Snowmobile Land, where dynamic excitement can be experienced. Enjoy winter amusements like ice slides, tube sledging, 4-wheel-drive buggies, park-golf on ice, etc., or experience the severe cold at the igloo village. Tokachigawa Swan Festival "Sairinka" A unique, fantastic light and sound show Time period Jan 27 − Mar 4,2007 Place Tokachigawa Hot Spring/ Tokachigaoka Park Hanac Plaza A fantasy light show of 300 illuminated images of swans set to original music. Speedy snow-rafting outdoor experience also takes place at the venue. You may even be fortunate enough to see night diamond dust. Akan Frozen Lake Festival ICE AKAN"Fuyuhanabi" (winter fireworks) A light-illusion show that colours the mystic winters of Lake Akan Time period Jan 21 − Mar 31,2007 Place Akan Lakeside Hot Spring/ Lake Akan's frozen surface An event packed with winter fun, including snowmen, igloos, mini-games, Lake Akan ice cutting, etc. Numerous ice and snow sculptures decorate the venue of the frozen surface of the lake. The sparks from the fireworks that rise above the pure white world of ice create a truly impressive site to behold. Diamond Dust Party From the silence of a freezing night, the spirit of ice is born Time period Jan 20 − Feb 28,2007 Place Kawayu Hot Spring / Yunokawa Park Temperatures frequently reach over minus 20 degrees centigrade in winter in Kawayu Hot Spring, making it Japan’s leading site for observing the diamond dust phenomenon. An attempt to produce the impressions created by nature, hand made in gratitude to those who visit Kawayu Hot Spring in sub-zero temperatures. This event is brought to you with these wishes. Shiretoko Fantasia 2007"Aurora Fantasy" Long ago, it was said to have appeared in the freezing Shiretoko night sky. Aurora Fantasy Time period Feb 5 − Mar 21,2007 Place Shiretoko Utoro Hot Spring / Ryuhyo Shizen Park venue From 8 pm every night of the season, the Shiretoko Fantasia is 20 minutes of laser and sound-filled fantasy space guaranteed to fascinate. Colourful Aurora lights swirl, colouring the Shiretoko night sky as the highlight, the aurora show's lasers create a fantastic drama against a vast ice-floe backdrop. 2007 Shikaribetsu Lake Kotan Here in winter, gone in spring: the phantom village Time period Jan 27 − Mar 31,2007 Place Lake Shikaribetsu Hot Spring / Shikaribetsu Lake Kotan Village and other venues The "Shikaribetsu Lake Kotan" appears on the frozen surface of Lake Shikaribetsu in winter. Kotan is an Ainu word, meaning village. An open-air hot bath on ice, Ice Bar and igloo (originally the name of an Inuit's ice-built residence), built using nature's blessings of snow, ice and the cold. The extremities of cold must be experienced! East Hokkaido Sightseeing Development Council / Hokkaido Sightseeing Promotion Council