What is the "Aomori Nebuta Matsuri"?

The Aomori Nebuta Matsuri is a representative summer festival of the Tohoku region. While its origins are uncertain, it is said to have combined the Tanabata lantern floating tradition brought from China during the Nara period with events like spirit sending, with "Nebuta" doll lanterns serving as the stars of the festival.
Many "Nebuta" are modeled after famous scenes from warriors and mythology, and their intense, glaring expressions are a highlight. They are also massive in scale, reaching up to 5 meters in height, 9 meters in width, and 7 meters in depth, making them incredibly impressive.
The scene of "Nebuta" floating in the dark night as they parade through the center of Aomori City is famous nationwide, and nearly 3 million people from Japan and abroad visit to watch it every year.

● 2026 Aomori Nebuta Matsuri Event Schedule

Get into the festival mood early at the eve festival!

On August 1st, an eve festival will be held at "Rasseland," the Nebuta hut near Aomori Station. The day is packed with events, including introductions of "Miss Nebuta" and Nebuta masters, as well as a competition of "Baketo" (people in costume) with white-painted faces and humorous makeup. You can also enjoy flute and drum endurance contests and Nebuta festival music performances.
Additionally, all the large Nebuta scheduled to appear this summer are gathered here, and around 6:00 PM after the opening ceremony of the eve festival, the completed works are lit up, creating a fantastic atmosphere.
Furthermore, from July 1st to August 6th, volunteers are stationed to guide visitors through the history and production process of Nebuta.

Local
Supporter

The eve festival is also a must-see! The musicians will perform original Nebuta music. Be sure to listen to this exclusive performance that you cannot hear during the main festival.

▼Nebuta Guide Team
URL: https://www.nebuta.jp/info/rasse-land/volunteer.html
Date and Time: July 1 (Wed) – August 6 (Thu), 2026
10:00–12:00, 13:00–15:00 *Last reception is 30 minutes before closing for both morning and afternoon sessions.
Fee: Free
Reservations/Inquiries: (1) 017-735-2522 (Rasse Land Information Desk *Phone line opens from 7/1) Reception hours: 10:00–15:00 (2) 017-752-1311 (Nebuta House Warasse: Available outside of (1)'s reception hours)
Notes: Duration is approximately 20 minutes. Reservations are recommended.

The climax is the five-day period starting August 2, which includes nighttime parades.

Creating a Nebuta is a major undertaking that takes a full year, involving around 300 people led by Nebuta masters. Because of this, every design is full of ingenuity and possesses an art-like beauty. The nighttime parades, which begin on August 2, are a must-see, as you can witness the dynamic "Nebuta" in action.
The rhythmic Nebuta music that enlivens the parade is also spectacular, and the dancers known as Haneto perform energetic jumps to the chant of "Rassera, Rassera."

Local
Supporter

Each organization presents its own float, so pay attention to their elaborate performances!

The charm of this festival lies in being able to feel the excitement of the dynamic "Nebuta" and the enthusiastic Haneto up close. Intersections along the route serve as free viewing areas, and although the number and order of floats vary by day, you can see performances by about 20 large Nebuta and about 10 children's Nebuta throughout the festival period.

Local
Supporter

August 5, the fourth day of the festival, is the final day of judging. It is an important day where items such as the perfection of the music, the jumping style of the Haneto dancers, and the float operation techniques are evaluated, so you might see the dancers jumping a little higher and more gracefully, or hear the drums being played a little louder than usual...

The finale is a sea parade featuring the award-winning Nebuta.

August 6, the final day of the nighttime parades, is a special day for the festival participants. Participants are divided into three roles—"Nebuta," "Haneto," and "Hayashi" (musicians)—to form a single group. On this day, the "Nebuta Grand Prize" is awarded to the most outstanding group based on a comprehensive evaluation of each part.
From the afternoon of the following day, the 7th, all four award-winning groups parade through Aomori City, led by the Grand Prize-winning Nebuta. At night, they depart from Aomori Port and sail off the coast of Mutsu Bay.
Afterward, when the Aomori Fireworks Festival begins, the festival reaches its grand finale. Approximately 10,000 fireworks are launched, allowing you to enjoy the collaboration between the fireworks and the Nebuta floating on the sea.

Local
Supporter

August 6th is the day after the judging and the final night of the parade. This is the day when the festival men and women involved in the Nebuta pour out all their passion from the past year! Since the judging is over, they enjoy the festival to the fullest without any reservations, making it a day where you can experience the Nebuta Festival at its absolute peak—this is what a festival is all about!

Participate in the festival as a Haneto

Alongside the spectacular "Nebuta" floats, another highlight of this festival is the Haneto dancers. Dressed in yukata with the hems tucked up to the knees, wearing flower hats and sashes, they dance energetically to liven up the festival.

In fact, anyone can join the Haneto dancers on the day of the event. The rules are simple: just wear the Haneto costume (please check the official website for details) and join any of the groups waiting at the starting point. There is no need for any troublesome procedures like advance registration.
Costumes can be purchased at department stores or clothing shops in Aomori City (a full set costs about 10,000 yen), or rented for around 4,000 yen (tabi socks, sandals, and flower hats are extra). However, since they are popular, booking in advance is best.
It is a great way to experience the festival firsthand and create lasting memories, so why not give it a try?

Local
Supporter

By the way, it is said that if you pick up a bell worn by a Haneto dancer, you will have good luck. The Nebuta Festival is a wonderful festival that is great to both watch and participate in. Please, enjoy it to the fullest!

▼Aomori Nebuta Festival
URL: https://www.nebuta.jp/
Venue: Aomori City center (route surrounded by National Routes 4 and 7, Shinmachi-dori, Hakkodori, and Heiwa Koen-dori)
Aomori Port (Aomori Fireworks Festival and Nebuta Sea Parade)
Special stage at "Nebuta Rasse Land" in Aoi-umi Park (Eve Festival)
Dates: August 2 (Sun) – August 7 (Fri), 2026 *Eve festival on the 1st (Sat) *Held on the same dates every year regardless of the day of the week, rain or shine
TEL: 017-723-7211 (Aomori Nebuta Festival Executive Committee Secretariat / Aomori Tourism and Convention Association)