Tohoku Travel – Three Spectacular Summer Festivals in Aomori

Experience the Powerful Summer Festivals of Northern Japan

August is one of the most exciting times to visit northern Japan.

In Aomori Prefecture, summer nights are transformed by enormous illuminated floats, powerful taiko drums, traditional music, and energetic shouts.

Among the many festivals held throughout the region, three stand out:

・Aomori Nebuta Festival
・Hirosaki Neputa Festival
・Goshogawara Tachineputa Festival

Although their names sound similar, each festival has its own unique character.

 

In August 2026, we visited these spectacular festivals and experienced the incredible atmosphere of Aomori’s summer nights.

 

1. Aomori Nebuta Festival

The Aomori Nebuta Festival is perhaps the most famous of the three.

Held every year from August 2 to 7, the festival fills the streets of Aomori City with enormous illuminated figures known as nebuta.

The giant floats depict warriors, legendary figures, gods, and scenes from Japanese history and mythology.

When the lights inside the nebuta are switched on after sunset, the enormous figures seem to come alive.

The atmosphere becomes even more exciting as traditional music fills the streets and haneto dancers shout and jump to the rhythm.

The famous call of “Rassera! Rassera!” echoes through the city.

For visitors, one of the most memorable aspects is that you can actually participate as a haneto if you follow the festival’s participation rules.

With hundreds of thousands of visitors gathering in the city and enormous illuminated floats moving through the streets, Aomori Nebuta is an unforgettable introduction to the summer festivals of Japan.

 

2. Hirosaki Neputa Festival – Warriors on Giant Fans

Just a short distance away, the city of Hirosaki celebrates a very different festival.

The Hirosaki Neputa Festival takes place from August 1 to 7 and features approximately 80 floats.

The most distinctive feature is the fan-shaped neputa.

The front of each float usually displays a powerful warrior image known as the kagamie, while the reverse side, called the miokuri, often has a much more delicate and atmospheric design.

This contrast between the dramatic front and elegant rear creates a unique beauty.

The festival is accompanied by the traditional cry:

“Yā-yado!”

Compared with Aomori Nebuta, Hirosaki Neputa has a somewhat more restrained and elegant atmosphere.

The historic castle town of Hirosaki provides a beautiful setting for the illuminated floats, creating a fascinating combination of traditional architecture, summer night scenery, and local culture.

 

3. Goshogawara Tachineputa – Giants Towering Above the Streets

If Aomori Nebuta impresses you with its powerful figures and Hirosaki Neputa captivates you with its elegant fan-shaped designs, Goshogawara Tachineputa overwhelms you with sheer scale.

The festival is held from August 4 to 8.

The word “Tachineputa” means something like “standing Neputa,” and the name perfectly describes these enormous vertical floats.

The largest floats can reach approximately 23 meters in height, equivalent to a seven-story building, and can weigh around 19 tons.

Standing beside one of these giants as it moves through the city is an extraordinary experience.

The traditional call of:

“Yatte-mare! Yatte-mare!”

echoes through the streets as the enormous illuminated figures pass between the buildings.

The scale is so impressive that visitors can look up several stories just to see the top of the float.

 

Three Festivals, Three Different Personalities

Although these festivals share a common cultural background, each offers a completely different experience.

Aomori Nebuta

Powerful and dynamic

Huge three-dimensional figures, energetic haneto dancers, drums, and the famous “Rassera!” calls create an explosive atmosphere.

Hirosaki Neputa

Elegant and dramatic

The distinctive fan-shaped floats combine powerful warrior paintings with beautifully contrasting designs on their reverse sides.

Goshogawara Tachineputa

Massive and overwhelming

The enormous vertical floats dominate the streets and create a sense of scale unlike almost any other festival in Japan.

Together, they show the remarkable diversity of Aomori’s traditional summer culture.

 

Why Are They Called Nebuta and Neputa?

One of the interesting things for international visitors is that the names differ:

Nebuta in Aomori
Neputa in Hirosaki
Tachineputa in Goshogawara

The festivals share historical roots in lantern and float traditions, but each community developed its own distinctive style over generations.

Today, these traditions are among the defining cultural experiences of Aomori Prefecture.

 

More Than Just Spectacular Floats

The beauty of these festivals is not limited to the enormous illuminated figures.

Behind every float are months of preparation.

Local artists, craftsmen, musicians, dancers, community groups, and volunteers work together to create the festival.

The floats are expressions of local identity as much as they are works of art.

For international travelers, this is an opportunity to see something that goes beyond a performance for tourists.

These are living traditions, deeply connected to the communities that continue to create and celebrate them every summer.

 

A Perfect Summer Journey Through Aomori

For travelers visiting Tohoku in August, experiencing all three festivals can become an unforgettable journey through northern Japan.

Start in Aomori City to experience the powerful Aomori Nebuta Festival.

Then travel to Hirosaki, where the atmosphere changes and elegant fan-shaped Neputa fill the historic castle town.

Finally, head to Goshogawara and look up at the enormous Tachineputa towering above the streets.

Three cities.

Three styles.

One extraordinary summer tradition.

 

Discover the Summer Festivals of Northern Japan

Many international visitors associate Japanese festivals with Kyoto, Tokyo, or Osaka.

But the summer festivals of Aomori reveal another side of Japan.

Here, enormous illuminated floats, traditional music, local craftsmanship, and generations of community traditions come together to create some of the most spectacular nights of the Japanese summer.

If you are looking for authentic Japanese festivals away from the usual tourist routes, Aomori should be high on your list.

 

Experience Aomori and Tohoku with Deep Japan Tours

At Deep Japan Tours, we introduce travelers to the cultural traditions, festivals, rural landscapes, and hidden gems of northern Japan.

From the spectacular summer festivals of Aomori to the historic towns and mountains of Fukushima and the wider Tohoku region, discover a deeper side of Japan.

 

Go beyond the famous destinations. Discover the Japan that locals know.