This is what the Aomori Nebuta Festival is all about.

The Aomori Nebuta Festival is the representative summer festival of the Tohoku region. The festival is said to have its origins in the Tanabata lantern floating ceremony introduced from China in the Nara period (710-794), with the Nebuta doll lanterns playing the leading role in the festival.
Many of the "Nebuta" are decorated with motifs of warriors and famous scenes from mythology, and their glaring expressions are a highlight of the festival. The largest Nebuta is 5 meters high, 9 meters wide, and 7 meters deep, making it a large scale and very powerful.
The parade of "Nebuta" floats in the darkness of the night through the downtown area of Aomori City is famous throughout Japan, and attracts nearly 3 million visitors from Japan and abroad every year.

Aomori Nebuta Festival Event Schedule for 2025

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

On August 1, the eve of the festival will be held at Russelland, a Nebuta hut near Aomori Station. On the day of the festival, there will be many events including the introduction of "Miss Nebuta" and Nebuta masters, as well as a performance by "Baketo (Kakejin)", who wear humorous makeup on their white painted faces. Visitors can also enjoy a flute and taiko endurance contest and a Nebuta music performance.
In addition, all the large Nebuta floats scheduled to compete this summer will be here, and at 6:00 p.m. after the opening ceremony of the eve of the festival, the completed works will be lit up to create a fantastic atmosphere.
From July 1 to August 6, volunteers will be on hand to guide visitors through the history and production process of the Nebuta.

▼ Nebuta Guide Team
URL: https: //www.nebuta.jp/info/rasse-land/volunteer.html
Date: July 1 (Tue) - August 6 (Wed), 2025
10:00-12:00, 13:00-15:00 *Last entry 30 minutes before both morning and afternoon
Admission: Free
Reservations/Inquiries: 017-735-2522 (Lasserand Information Reception Desk *Telephone service is available from 7/1)
Reception hours: 10:00-15:00
Note: Takes about 20 minutes. Reservations are better.

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".

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.

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

August 6, the last day of the nighttime festival, is a special day for festival participants. The participants are divided into the three roles of "nebuta," "haneto," and "musical accompaniment," forming one group. On this day, the "Nebuta Grand Prize" is awarded to the best group based on the overall evaluation of each part.
On the following day, the 7th, all four winning groups parade through Aomori City, with the grand prize-winning Nebuta leading the way. At night, the Nebuta will depart from Aomori Port and sail off the coast of Mutsu Bay.
The festival then reaches its finale when the Aomori Fireworks Festival begins. Approximately 11,000 fireworks are launched, and visitors can enjoy the collaboration with the Nebuta floating on the sea.

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.

Actually, you are free to jump in on the day of the Haneto. The rules are simple: just put on a haneto costume (see the official website for details) and join a local haneto group at least 10 minutes before the Nebuta float is scheduled to run.
Costumes can be purchased at department stores or clothing stores in Aomori City (about 10,000 yen for a set), or rented for about 4,000 yen (tabi socks, zori, and hanagasa hats are extra). However, reservations are best, as they are very popular.
It is a great way to experience the festival firsthand and to make memories, so why not give it a try?

Aomori Nebuta Festival
URL: https: //www.nebuta.jp/
Venue: Aomori City Central Area (Route 4 and 7, Shinmachi Dori, Hakko Dori, and Peace Park Dori surround the route)
Aomori Port (Aomori Fireworks Display, Nebuta Sea Rally)
Nebuta Raseland" special stage in Aoi Sea Park (eve of the festival)
Period: August 2 (Sat) - 7 (Thu), 2025 *August 2 (Sat) - 7 (Thu), 2025 *August 2 (Mon) - 7 (Thu), 2025 *August 1 (Fri): eve festival *Held on the same day every year regardless of the day of the week, rain or shine
TEL: 017-723-7211 (Aomori Nebuta Festival Executive Committee Office / Aomori Tourism & Convention Association)