A park along Lake Ogawara, the 11th largest lake in Japan, offers visitors recreation throughout the year and bursts into bloom in late April and early May with around 1,000 somei yoshino and other sakura varieties. Tohoku Town Sakura Festival is held around this time, with night illuminations creating a charming atmosphere. Popular events include open-air tea ceremony, a fishing competition for a fish called herabuna, a fishing net pulling experience and cooking of the catch.