The Aomori Nebuta Festival is a fire festival that represents Japan. Together with the Akita Kanto Festival and the Sendai Tanabata Festival, it is called one of the three Tohoku Festivals. The glamorous Nebuta will captivate you as you walk through the city.
About the Aomori Nebuta Festival
The Aomori Nebuta Festival is held in Aomori Prefecture in the Tohoku region. It lasts for 6 days from August 2nd to August 7th every year. The roots of the Aomori Nebuta Festival date back to the early 1700s. It is said that it began by walking and dancing with a lantern imitating Hirosaki's Neputa Festival.
Later, from the late 1800s, it was changed to a festival with floats carrying large dolls called Nebuta, and Haneto which jump and dance.
Today, it is a popular festival that attracts around 3 million tourists from home and abroad.
Dates and locations of the 2024 Nebuta Festival
The official dates and times for 2024 have been announced. The route is a 10-minute walk from JR Aomori Station. Paid viewing seats are set up on the sidewalks along the route. You can watch the event from other locations without purchasing a seat, but they are crowded with spectators.
- Date: Friday, August 2nd to Wednesday, August 7th, 2024
- Location: Central part of Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture, 030-0823
- Access: Approximately 10 minutes on foot from JR Aomori Station
- Tickets: Free (separate purchase required for paid viewing seats)
- Official website: https://www.nebuta.jp/foreign/english.html
- Supported languages: Japanese, English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Korean
Highlights of the Aomori Nebuta Festival
The Aomori Nebuta Festival is an event where you can experience as well as enjoy. In order to enjoy the festival even more, here are some points that you want to check out.
The Colorful Nebuta
The biggest star of the Aomori Nebuta Festival is Nebuta. It is a large doll with a light bulb and fluorescent light in a shape made of wire, thread, and stretched with paper. The designs vary depending on the maker, with motifs such as Japanese and Chinese legends, historical figures, Kabuki (classical Japanese performance), gods, and myths.
The maximum size is 9-meters in width, 5-meters in height, and 7-meters in depth including the trolley on which dolls are placed. You will be overwhelmed by its grandeur.
Furthermore, the sight of the illuminated Nebuta coloring the night city is charming. The doll's face, limbs, and kimono pattern drawn with ink decorate the scene alongside the lighting.
Participate in the Festival as a Haneto
At the Aomori Nebuta Festival, you can participate as Haneto dancing around the Nebuta. In order to participate as Haneto, no pre-registration is required. However, because it is essential to wear a Haneto costume, be sure to check out the costume rental shop and the dressing shop in advance. The costume rental fee is about 4,000 yen.
If you participate in the Aomori Nebuta Festival, dance together and enjoy the festival atmosphere to the fullest!
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