The Backpack Adventures

The first time that we experienced the Rumoi Moekko Haru Festival was on March 12, 2023 , which was my 496 th day here in Japan as an ALT under the JET Programme . We were lucky to catch the Rumoi Moekko Haru Festival 2024 on March 10, 2024 , and just like last year, it was a fun and lively event. The only difference this time was that my team did not participate in the Moekko Banba Race . Even so, my family and I still enjoyed watching the festival and soaking in the energetic atmosphere. Rumoi Moekko Haru Festival 2024 Rumoi Moekko Haru Matsuri Details The Rumoi Moekko Haru Matsuri ( 留萌萌っこ 春待里 ) , or “ Rumoi Waiting for Spring Festival ,” is held every second week of March at Senba Park in Rumoi City, Hokkaido. As its name suggests, it is a way for the community to welcome spring while the snow still lingers. What makes this festival stand out is the Moekko Banba Race, where teams of eight drag a 700-kilogram herring boat through the snow. It is chaotic, thrilling, and ve...

Day 860:  March 10, 2024 Sunday –  Rumoi x Moekko Haru Festival It was a sunny morning, though the weather forecast said there might be snow. Today, Rumoi City was celebrating the Moekko Haru Matsuri , or the “ Waiting for Spring Festival .” Of course, we couldn’t miss it. We headed to the Rumoi Roadside Station grounds to attend the Moekko Haru Matsuri After breakfast, we drove to Rumoi Roadside Station , where the festival was scheduled from 11 AM to 2:30 PM. We arrived around 10:30 AM, giving us plenty of time to explore the area before the events started. We enjoyed watching the Banba Race . Last year, the teachers of Rumoi High School joined this one The highlight of the festival was the Banba Race , where teams of eight people dragged a herring boat weighing around 700 kilograms from one end of Senba Park to the other. Last year, I joined the Rumoi High School Teachers team , and we placed 4th, but this year, we did not participate because there were not enough yo...