Kuroishi City, Aomori Prefecture, where the Edo period townscape still remains, offers an experience of making "Kuroishi Neputa" lanterns! Handmade goods and experience atelier IRODORI

  • Aomori
  • Experience Gifu
IRODORI, located in Kuroishi City, Aomori Prefecture, is a general store that offers hands-on experience of making and selling goods that reuse pictures of Neputa. This article introduces Kuroishi City, Aomori Prefecture, and the "Neputa Lantern Making Experience," which is made by reusing Neputa pictures.

What is Kuroishi City in Aomori Prefecture like?

Kuroishi City in Aomori Prefecture is located about 30 minutes from Hirosaki Station on the Konan Railway. It used to be a prosperous castle town. In "Nakamachi Komise-dori," the center of the town, a wooden arcade from the feudal domain era called "Komise" still remains, and visitors can stroll through the precious scenery. This "Nakamachi Komise-dori" has also been selected as one of the 100 best roads in Japan.
Nakamachi Komise Street" in Kuroishi City, Aomori Prefecture

Features of Kuroishi Neputa Festival and Neputa

Aomori Prefecture is famous for its summer "Aomori Nebuta Festival," and Kuroishi City also holds the "Kuroishi Neputa Festival" from July 30 to August 5. You can see them parade through the elegant town lined with merchant houses from the feudal era. The Kuroishi Neputa is not large in size due to the narrow width of the streets, but the paintings are finely detailed, delicate, and vividly colored.
Lots of lanterns and gorgeous Kuroishi Neputa
Beautifully detailed Kuroishi Neputa

A place where you can rediscover the charm of Neputa, "Handmade goods and experience workshop IRODORI

In a corner of Nakamachi Komise Street, lined with old merchant houses dating back to the feudal domain era, is the "Handmade Goods and Experience Workshop IRODORI.
Handmade goods and experience workshop IRODORI
The shoji windows along the street have been repurposed from Neputa paintings, and the exterior of the shop makes you want to take a picture. The view from inside the store is also wonderful, with the shoji windows reflecting the bright colors of the outside light, which enhances the mood of the trip.
Shoji window seen from inside the store
Upon entering the store, your eyes are greeted by a variety of colorful lanterns and fans that emit a gentle and warm light. It is a magical space that you cannot help but admire, and you will feel as if you have stepped into a different world.
A fantastic world spreads out inside the store.
Since all of the lanterns and fans are made by reusing real Neputa pictures, "no two pictures are alike" and "you can see different pictures every time you visit" is the attraction. The pictures are usually thrown away after the festival is over, but IRODORI, a handmade goods and experience studio, takes over the real Neputa pictures after the festival, and presents the charm of Kuroishi Neputa in a different form from the "festival" as products and experiences.
Brightly colored fans

Experience making the world's one and only "Neputa Lantern"!

There are a total of four types of lanterns available at "Handmade Goods and Experience Studio IRODORI.
From left to right:
3-tier Neputa lantern 7,920 yen
2-tier Neputa lantern 5,940 yen
Neputa lantern mini large 4,950 yen
Neputa lantern mini small 3,960 yen
(tax included, LED lighting included)
All can be completed in about one hour!
Making Neputa Lanterns

What is the flow of the experience?

First, choose your favorite design from the large and small Neputa pictures that have been pre-cut to fit the lantern frame. Next, while considering the balance of colors, lay them out on the framework of the lantern. Finally, glue the edges of the pictures onto the framework to complete the lantern!

Why don't you make the world's one and only "Neputa Lantern" by choosing your favorite combination of parts from various colors and patterns? You will feel relaxed and warm when you light the lanterns at home.
Flow of the experience
For reservations for the "Neputa Lantern Making Experience," visit

Immerse yourself in the charm of Neputa in Kuroishi City, Aomori Prefecture!

This time we introduced the "Neputa Lantern Making Experience" available at "Handmade Goods and Hands-on Workshop IRODORI" in Kuroishi City, Aomori Prefecture. At this store, you can also purchase the lanterns and fans on display, so even if you don't have time to experience making them, you can take them home as souvenirs. It is fun to look for your favorite one among the many works on display!

If you travel to Aomori Prefecture, be sure to stop by!
For reservations for train + lodging in the Aomori area, please see the JR East View Dynamic Rail Package.
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