This is what the Aomori Nebuta Festival is all about.

The “Aomori Nebuta Festival” is one of Tohoku’s most iconic summer festivals. While its exact origins are unclear, it is believed to have evolved from a fusion of the Tanabata lantern floating ceremony—which was introduced from China during the Nara period—and rituals for sending off spirits. The “nebutas,” or giant lantern figures, are the stars of the festival.
Many “nebutas” are modeled after famous scenes from samurai tales and mythology, and their fierce, intense expressions are a major highlight. With maximum dimensions of 5 meters high, 9 meters wide, and 7 meters deep, their sheer scale makes for a truly spectacular sight.
The sight of the “Nebuta” floats parading through downtown Aomori City, glowing against the dark night sky, is famous throughout Japan, attracting nearly 3 million visitors from both Japan and abroad every year.

● 2026 “Aomori Nebuta Festival” Event Schedule

Get into the festival mood early at the eve of the festival!

On August 1, a pre-festival celebration will be held at “Rasseland,” a Nebuta workshop near Aomori Station.The day’s program is packed with events, including introductions of “Miss Nebuta” and the Nebuta artisans, as well as a competition featuring “Baketo” (masked performers) with white-painted faces and humorous makeup. You can also enjoy endurance contests for flute and drum players, as well as a Nebuta music concert.
In addition, all of the large Nebuta floats scheduled to participate this summer are on display here, and around 6:00 PM after the opening ceremony of the pre-festival celebration, the completed floats will be illuminated, creating a magical atmosphere.
Furthermore, from July 1 to August 6, volunteer guides will be on-site to explain the history of Nebuta and the float-making process.

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Don’t miss the pre-festival celebration! The musicians will perform their original Nebuta music. Be sure to catch this exclusive performance—you won’t hear it during the main festival.

▼Nebuta Guide Team
URL: https://www.nebuta.jp/info/rasse-land/volunteer.html
Dates: Wed, July 1, 2026 – Thu, August 6, 2026
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM *Last admission is 30 minutes before the end of each session
Admission: Free
Reservations & Inquiries:① 017-735-2522 (Lasseland Information Desk *Phone service available starting July 1) Hours: 10:00–15:00　② 017-752-1311 (Nebuta no Ie Warasse: Available even outside of the hours listed for ①)
Note: The tour takes about 20 minutes. Reservations are recommended.

The climax of the festival is the five days from August 2, when there is a nighttime operation.

Nebuta making is a major undertaking that takes a year and involves a total of about 300 people, mainly nebuta masters. The Nebuta are all so beautifully designed and full of ideas that they are almost like works of art. The nighttime Nebuta performance, which begins on August 2, is a must-see to see the lively Nebuta.
The rhythmic Nebuta music that enlivens the Nebuta is also a sight to behold, and the dancers, called haneto (jumpers), perform energetic leaps with the call of "Raselaa, Raselaa".

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Each business participates by sending out a float—be sure to check out their elaborate performances!

The attraction of this festival is that you can feel the excitement of the dynamic "Nebuta" and the enthusiastic haneto dancers up close. The intersections along the course are free viewing areas, and although the number and order of the floats may vary from day to day, throughout the festival there will be approximately 20 large Nebuta floats and 10 children's Nebuta floats.

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August 5, the fourth day of the festival, is the final day of judging. It’s a crucial day when every aspect—from the quality of the music to the dancers’ jumps and the float-handling skills—is evaluated, so you might notice the dancers jumping just a little higher and more gracefully than usual, or the drumbeats sounding even louder than ever...

The finale is a parade of prize-winning Nebuta floats on the sea.

August 6, the final day of the night parades, is a special day for festival participants. Participants are divided into three roles—"Nebuta," "Haneto," and "Hayashi"—to form a single group. On this day, the "Nebuta Grand Prize" is awarded to the most outstanding group based on an overall evaluation of each part.
Starting in the early afternoon of the following day, August 7, all four prize-winning groups parade through Aomori City, led by the Grand Prize-winning Nebuta float. In the evening, they set sail from Aomori Port and cruise off the coast of Mutsu Bay.
After that, the Aomori Fireworks Festival begins, marking the festival’s grand finale. Approximately 10,000 fireworks are launched, creating a spectacular display in collaboration with the Nebuta floats floating on the sea.

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August 6 is the day after the judging and the last day of the nighttime operation. This is the day when the festival men and women involved in the Nebuta festival vent their feelings for the year! They enjoy the festival to the fullest regardless of the judging, and this is the festival at its best! This is the day to enjoy the Nebuta Festival at its peak.

Participate in the festival as a haneto

Along with the spectacular Nebuta, the Haneto is another famous feature of this festival. Dressed in yukata (light cotton kimono) pulled up to the knees and wearing hanagasa (hats with hats) and sashesigake (sashesikake), they dance vigorously to the accompaniment of the festival.

In fact, anyone is free to join the Haneto dancers on the day of the event. The rules are simple: just wear the Haneto costume (check the official website for details) and join one of the groups waiting at the starting point—there’s no need for any complicated procedures like advance registration.
You can purchase the costume (a full set costs about 10,000 yen) at department stores and clothing shops in Aomori City, or rent it for around 4,000 yen (tabi socks, zori sandals, and hanagasa hats are charged separately). However, since it’s very popular, making a reservation is best.
It’s a great way to experience the festival firsthand and create lasting memories, so why not give it a try?

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Incidentally, it is said that if you pick up the bells worn by the haneto, good things will happen to you. The Nebuta Festival is a wonderful festival to see and dance to. Please enjoy the festival!

▼Aomori Nebuta Festival
URL: https://www.nebuta.jp/
Venue: Downtown Aomori City (the route surrounded by National Routes 4 and 7, Shinmachi-dori, Hakkō-dori, and Heiwa-kōen-dori)
Aomori Port (Aomori Fireworks Festival and Nebuta Boat Procession)
Special Stage at “Nebuta Rasse Land” in Aoi Umi Park (Pre-Festival Celebration)
Dates: August 2 (Sun) – 7 (Fri), 2026 *Pre-Festival Celebration on August 1 (Sat) *Held on the same dates every year regardless of the day of the week; event takes place rain or shine
TEL: 017-723-7211 (Aomori Nebuta Festival Executive Committee Secretariat / Aomori Tourism and Convention Association)