Brighten up your summer evenings with a nice stroll at a park less than an hour away from Misawa Air.

Atago Park in Noheji Town is hosting “Hikari Monogatari” (the story of light), a night illumination through Aug. 31.

Though night illuminations are usually a winter attraction, the park is bringing some of that seasonal magic to light up the steamy summer.

The illuminations feature 150,000 LED lights with more than 10 different color hues spanning an 8,000 square meter area. The theme is Noheji Town’s four seasons, including spring’s cherry blossoms, the blue sea of Mutsu Gulf, the autumn leaves of Mt. Eboshidake and the snowy scenery seen in the town during the winter.

Appreciate the intricate lights from above on the observation tower. Yoshihito Morita, a Misawa Commissary employee, recently visited the park and said the view was fantastic. Morita also recommends you bring bug spray to dodge the mosquitoes.

According to Morita, students from the local Noheji High School conrtributed to the illumination project. Visitors can also see the town’s symbols featured in the display including the Kitamaebune and Joyano stone nightlights. These symbols are a call back to Noheji Town’s start as a port town and a thriving hub for traditional Kitamaebune cargo ships running from Osaka to Hokkaido throughout the Edo and Meiji Eras (1603-1912).

The illumination also has a photo contest and visitors can also enjoy snacks from food trucks there scheduled for Aug. 15-16, 23 and 30-31.

Atago Park is only a 50-minute drive from Misawa, so brighten up your summer evenings with some beautiful illuminations!

From Aug. 21-24, the town will also hold the Noheji Gion Matsuri festival at the port and other locations within the town. Make plans to check out a replica of the gigantic Kitamaebune cargo ship “Michinoku-maru” at the festival.

Noheji Illumination “Hikari Story 2025”

• Location: Atago Park (56 Teranosawa, Noheji Town, Kamikita-gun, Aomori Prefecture)

• Dates: Until Aug. 31

• Hours: 7-9 p.m.

• Admission: Free

• Website: “Noheji Illumination Light Story 2025” [August 8th - 31st] | Announcement | Noheji Town Tourism Association

• Phone: 0175-64-2111 (Noheji Town Office)

Noheji Gion Matsuri

• Locations: Noheji Port, Joyato Park, Noheji Hachimangu Shrine, Noheji Station and other locations in Noheji Town (see website)

• Hours: Aug. 21, 3 – 8 p.m.; 22, 4:45 – 8 p.m.; 23, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; 24, 1 – 4 p.m.

• Admission: Free

• Website: 2025 Noheji Gion Festival (August 21st-24th) | Announcement | Noheji Town Tourism Association

• Phone: 0175-64-955 (Noheji Town Tourism Association)

Misawa Air Base