Written by JC Team
This festival, for which Aomori is most famous for, takes place in Aomori City during the first week of August.
What happens?
The main procession of the festival consists of large internally lit floats depicting kabuki scenes that are wheeled around wildly from side to side. Members of the public are free to join in as long as they are wearing the required haneto costume.
Schedule
The Aomori Nebuta schedule sees parades on each evening from the 2nd to the 6th with a procession of floats happening during the day on the 7th with a large fireworks festival in the evening.
The best seating spots along the route are mostly reserved by hotels and tour companies. If you don’t have a seat, either staking out a street corner or buying the festival costume (they are on sale throughout Aomori City) and participating in the parade are your best bets for getting a good view.
Accommodation
Booking accommodation in Aomori during the week of Nebuta is extremely difficult due to the huge influx of visitors. All hotels in the region are booked well in advance with many reserved for rather expensive all-inclusive package tours out of Tokyo or Osaka.
If you can’t book a hotel, your best option may be traveling into Aomori for the day from neighboring prefectures, or camping. In past years there has been a free, although quite rudimentary temporary camping ground located near the ferry terminal.
Other nebuta festivals
In addition to the Aomori Nebuta, there are similar festivals throughout the Tsugaru Plain including Hirosaki Neputa, Goshogawara Tachi-Neputa, Hirakawa Neputa and Kuroishi Neputa.
Organizers may cancel events, alter schedules, or change admission requirements without notice. Always check official sites before heading to an event.
