Cosquín en Japón

Cosquín en Japón

Cosquín en Japón is an Argentinian and Latin American folk music festival held yearly in Kawamata town in central Fukushima Prefecture.

People who love Latin American folk culture, including musicians, singers, and enthusiasts, come together to enjoy the music and dance performances at the festival. The event is open to both amateur and professional performers, and, over the years, the number of participating groups has increased from 13 in its first year to more than 100 in 2023.

The festival, held since 1975, takes place at the Kawamata Town Central Community Center (川俣町中央公民館に会場) over two or three days. It is organized by Norte Japón (North Japan Latin American Music Federation).

The festival name means ‘Cosquín in Japan’ in Spanish, and pays tribute to Argentina's most important National Folklore Festival, held each year in the town of Cosquín in the province of Córdoba.

A variety of rhythms and artistic styles from Latin America are represented at the festival. Its main focus is Argentinian and Andean folk music, which is played with instruments such as the quena, charango, acoustic guitar, and bombo.

You can attend the festival for free without needing to register beforehand.

Venue Details

Venue Details
Websitehttps://www.cosquin.jp/(Japanese)
Contact

Executive Director Hiroyuki Saito
024-566-5050
info@cosquin.jp

Access Details
AccessKawamata Town Central Community Center (川俣町中央公民館に会場) in Kawamata Town
View directions
Getting there

By Car: 35 min from Fukushima Sta. via National Route 114.

By Bus: Take a bus bound for Kawamata at Fukushima Station and get off at the bus stop in front of the Kawamata town hall [川俣町役場前]. The bus ride takes 45 approx. minutes. Buses run every hour.

 

Nearby

The World Glassware Hall
Cultural Experiences

Design Your Own Shirakawa Daruma

There are records of Shirakawa Daruma (Japanese traditional dolls) being sold as far back as the feudal reign of the Niwa Domain in 1627. Current Shirakawa Daruma are known as “Shirakawa Tsurugame Shochikubai Daruma.” The faces of these dolls are painted to incorporate various animals and plants, with the eyebrows representing cranes, the mustache representing a turtle, the ears representing pines and plum trees, and the beard representing bamboo or pine trees. All of these images are thought to bring good luck. The daruma is known to be a very classical, lucky talisman, started by Matsudaira Sadanobu, the lord of Shirakawa, when he hired the renowned painter Tani Buncho to paint the now famous face on the daruma doll. Once every year a large Shirakawa Daruma Market is held to celebrate and sell the beloved daruma dolls. You can paint your own daruma at the two daruma workshops in town!
The World Glassware Hall
Outdoor Activities

Ebisu Circuit

Ebisu Circuit is a multi-course motorsport facility in the hills above Nihonmatsu City. Rather than a single racetrack, it is a collection of separate courses built across a mountainside, connected by access roads and surrounded by forest. It was developed by Nobushige Kumakubo, a professional drifter who wanted a place dedicated to practice and grassroots driving. Over time, it became closely associated with drifting in particular, both domestically and internationally.The complex is divided into several courses, each with their own unique style and character. Kita (North Course) is one of the busiest areas, with cars running along a back section that brings car speeding past the spectator wall. Nishi (West Course), traditionally associated with grip driving, includes a short layout well-known for long drift trains.Higashi (East Course), usually a grip circuit, is opened for drifting during festival periods and also houses the main circuit office. The Touge (mountain pass) course winds through a narrower hilly section with tighter bends and noticeable elevation changes.Ebisu has also become a destination for overseas drivers. Many travel specifically to experience the different course layouts, enjoy the informal practice culture and chat with other drift enthusiasts. It is common to see privately owned cars ranging from lightly modified street builds to dedicated drift machines. The atmosphere during regular days is focused on driving rather than spectacle, with participants rotating through sessions and making adjustments between runs.Three times a year, the circuit hosts the Ebisu Drift Matsuri. The festival, typically held in spring, summer, and autumn, opens multiple courses for extended sessions over several days. Drivers move between tracks, often running late into the evening, and tandem drifting is a big attraction. Unlike formal competitions, the emphasis is on participation and meeting fellow drivers. For many visitors, the festival represents the most concentrated expression of Ebisu’s identity: a large group of drivers sharing the same mountain, rotating through its varied layouts, and focusing almost entirely on drifting. Learn more about the festival with our total guide.For visitors looking to experience drifting themselves, the Drift Taxi experience lets you ride as a passenger in a special drifting car while a professional driver speeds around the circuit. Booking and more information here.
Discover Central Area

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