What is the Aomori Nebuta Festival like?

The Aomori Nebuta Festival is a summer festival representing the Tohoku region. It is said to have originated from the Tanabata lantern floating festival that was brought over from China during the Nara period, and the main attraction of the festival is the doll lantern called "Nebuta."
Many of the Nebuta floats feature motifs of warriors and famous scenes from mythology, and their fierce expressions are a highlight. The largest are 5m in height, 9m in width, and 7m in depth, making them very impressive.
The sight of the Nebuta floats floating in the dark night parading through the center of Aomori city is famous throughout the country, and every year it attracts nearly three million spectators from both within Japan and overseas.

●2025 "Aomori Nebuta Festival" event schedule

Get into the festive mood early with the eve of the festival!

On August 1st, a pre-festival will be held at the Nebuta hut "Lasse Land" near Aomori Station. On the day, there will be a variety of events, including introductions to "Miss Nebuta" and Nebuta artists, as well as a competition between "Baketo" (human figures) who wear humorous makeup on their white-painted faces. You can also enjoy a flute and drum endurance contest and a Nebuta music concert.
All of the large Nebuta scheduled to compete this summer are also on display here, and at 6pm after the opening ceremony of the eve of the festival, the completed works are lit up, creating a fantastical atmosphere.
Additionally, from July 1st to August 6th, volunteers will be on hand to guide visitors on the history of Nebuta and the production process.

▼Nebuta Guide Team
URL: https://www.nebuta.jp/info/rasse-land/volunteer.html
Date and time: July 1st (Tue)- August 6th (Wed), 2025
10:00-12:00, 13:00-15:00 *Last admission is 30 minutes before closing in both the morning and afternoon
Price: Free
TEL: 017-752-1311 (Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse)
Note: Takes about 20 minutes. Reservations are recommended. *Details on reservations will be announced in late May.

The climax will be a five-day period starting August 2nd with nighttime service

The making of the Nebuta is a huge undertaking that takes a year and involves a total of about 300 people, mainly Nebuta craftsmen. For that reason, each one is full of ingenious designs and is as beautiful as art. In particular, the nighttime parade starting on August 2nd is a must-see, as you can see the dynamic "Nebuta".
The rhythmic Nebuta music that livens up the Nebuta parade is also a spectacular sight, and the Haneto (jumping people) dancers perform energetic leaps accompanied by calls of "Rasera, rasera."

The appeal of this festival is that you can experience the excitement of the dynamic "Nebuta" and the enthusiastic Haneto up close. The intersections on the course are free viewing areas, and although the number and order of the floats vary depending on the day, you can see performances of about 20 large Nebuta and about 10 children's Nebuta throughout the period.

The finale will be a sea parade of the winning nebuta

The final day of the night parade, August 6th, is a special day for the festival participants. Participants are divided into three groups: "Nebuta," "Haneto," and "Hayashi." On this day, the "Nebuta Grand Prize" is awarded to the group that best performs in each group based on an overall evaluation of each group.
Starting at noon on the following day, the 7th, all four winning groups will parade through Aomori City, with the grand prize winning Nebuta at the front. In the evening, they will depart Aomori Port and sail off the coast of Mutsu Bay.
Afterwards, the Aomori Fireworks Festival begins, bringing the festival to a finale. Approximately 11,000 fireworks are launched into the sky, creating a spectacular combination with the floating Nebuta floats on the sea.

Become a dancer and take part in the festival

Alongside the gorgeous Nebuta, another famous attraction of this festival is the Haneto. Dressed in yukata with the hems of the kimono pulled up to the knees and flower-shaped hats draped across their sashes, the Haneto dance vigorously to enliven the festival.

In fact, anyone can join this Haneto on the day. The rules are simple: just put on a Haneto costume (check the official website for details) and join a local Haneto group 10 minutes before the Nebuta floats begin to parade. There are no complicated procedures such as prior registration.
Costumes can be purchased at department stores and clothing stores in Aomori City (about 10,000 yen for the whole set), or rented for around 4,000 yen (socks, sandals, and flower hats are charged separately). However, they are very popular, so it's best to make a reservation.
You'll be able to Experience the festival firsthand and create some great memories, so why not give it a try?

▼Aomori Nebuta Festival
URL: https://www.nebuta.jp/
Venue: Aomori City Center (Route surrounded by National Routes 4 and 7, Shinmachi Street, Hakko Street, and Heiwa Koen Street)
Aomori Port (Aomori Fireworks Festival and Nebuta Sea Parade)
Special stage at "Nebuta Rasse Land" in Aoiumi Park (eve of the festival)
Period: (Sat) August 2nd to (Thu), August 7th, 2025 *There will be a pre-festival on Friday, (Fri) 1st *The event will be 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 Secretariat / Aomori Tourism and Convention Association)