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IRIS: A Romantic Snow Country – Vote Online to Win a 4-Day, 3-Night Akita Getaway for Two!

Published: 2026-11-09 👁 100 views

Last updated 2026-11-09 — The popular idol drama IRIS, which has captivated audiences in Japan and Korea, will premiere in Taiwan on December 27. This wave of enthusiasm has also boosted tourism in its filming location—Akita Prefecture in Japan’s Tohoku region. Visitors from around the world are flocking to Akita to…

The popular idol drama IRIS, which has captivated audiences in Japan and Korea, will premiere in Taiwan on December 27. This wave of enthusiasm has also boosted tourism in its filming location—Akita Prefecture in Japan’s Tohoku region. Not only are international tourists visiting Akita’s stunning winter landscapes, but its hidden hot springs and unique local cuisine are also winning rave reviews. From now until January 31, 2011, vote online for the most romantic IRIS scene and you could win a 4-day, 3-night Akita getaway for two!

The “Symphony of Light” festival adds a dazzling atmosphere to the cold winter.

Every winter, Akita Prefecture is blanketed by astonishing amounts of snow, transforming into a dreamlike silver-white world. Various lively festivals kick off one after another, such as the Ani Tree Ice at Moriyoshi Mountain, which can be admired from the ropeway or—uniquely in Japan—walked up to on foot from the ropeway station. The Tengen Festival in Kamihibiki features enormous sky lanterns decorated with bold warrior and beautiful maiden paintings that are truly eye-catching. The fearsome guardian deity of the Oga Peninsula, Namahage, with its thunderous roar and imposing presence, is another must-see spectacle.

Akita’s snowy scenery resembles a fairytale wonderland.

In the online magazine “Explore Akita” published by the Akita Prefecture tourism authority, readers are taken on a tour of winter festivals, explore IRIS filming locations, and are introduced to hidden local restaurants recommended by locals, including the unbeatable Hinai Chicken Oyakodon. There are also hidden alleyway delights such as delicious white miso ramen; after eating and drinking your fill, you can also visit IRIS filming spots: the Lake Tazawa where Lee Byung-hun and Kim Tae-hee embraced, the Nyuto Onsen hot spring inns, the Ogata Aquarium, and the Yokote Snow Huts, all offering maximum romance.

Akita’s winter is also a great time for hot spring bathing!

Those eager to experience Akita’s charm now have an amazing opportunity. Vote online for your favorite romantic scene from the Korean drama IRIS and fill out a questionnaire for a chance to win a 4-day, 3-night Akita couple’s free trip, including a stay at the hotel where actor Lee Byung-hun once stayed. Additionally, multiple IRIS-limited grand prizes will be given away!