Aomori Nebuta Festival: The Year 2025 Edition! Aomori Nebuta Festival: The highlight of the festival is the colorful Nebuta and Haneto!

  • Aomori
  • Sightseeing
2024 JR Nebuta Project "Ashigara no Kintoki: Raikou ni Tsuite" (Nebuta Production by Hiroo Takenami)
The time for the 2025 Aomori Nebuta Festival is approaching! During the Aomori Nebuta Festival, about 20 huge floats called "Nebuta" parade along 3.1 km in the center of Aomori City, accompanied by drums and music.

The huge floats are 9 meters wide, 7 meters deep, and 5 meters high, and are very colorful! Many of the floats are based on historical tales, and the lights that illuminate the floats from the inside make the nighttime parade a fantastic sight.
Fantastic Nebuta performance

Aomori Nebuta Festival 2025 Schedule

The Aomori Nebuta Festival runs from August 2 to August 7 each year, with the Nebuta run in the daytime on the last day, August 7, and the fireworks display at night.

August 1 (Fri) Eve Festival
18:00 - 21:00 (tentative) (Venue: Aoi Sea Park Special Stage)
Various contests and events will be held. Food stalls, etc.

August 2 (Sat.), 3 (Sun.)
19:00- (Departure from the intersection of the first Nebuta Cooperative)
Operation of children's Nebuta (approx. 10) and large Nebuta (approx. 15)

August 4 (Mon.) - 6 (Wed.)
18:45- (Departure from the intersection of the first Nebuta Shinmachi Yanagi-cho)
Operation of large Nebuta (approx. 20)

August 7 (Thu)
13:00- (Departure from Shinmachi Shinmachi Yanagimachi intersection)
Operation of large Nebuta floats (approx. 20 floats to be operated)

19:15-21:00 (Venue: Aomori Port)
The 71st Aomori Fireworks Festival and Nebuta Sea Operation

*The schedule is for FY 2025. Please check the official website for the latest information.

How to enjoy Aomori Nebuta Festival

The Aomori Nebuta Festival is not only for viewing, but also for tourists who can participate as haneto on the day of the festival or observe the Nebuta before the festival begins! In this article, we will introduce how to enjoy the Aomori Nebuta Festival in 2025.

No.1: Watch! Listen! Enjoy!

The Aomori Nebuta Festival is best enjoyed first by watching and listening. Since the festival is held at night, the sight of the huge, colorful floats moving through the darkness one after another in front of you is a sight to behold.

Please take your time to watch the dynamic movements of the floats as they are guided by the "fan bearers" who guide the floats.
Moving to the accompaniment of the fan bearers
Holding a fan in the shape of a flower
The sound of the flutes, drums, and gongs called "Nebuta Musical Instruments" is so powerful that you may find yourself moving to the rhythm of the music. (Jawamegu is a Tsugaru dialect word meaning "excited").
The lively and energetic hand gong
The flutes are played powerfully.
Nebuta is a once-in-a-lifetime event. Most Nebuta are torn down after the festival each year, so if you find one you like, take photos of it and enjoy the festival.

The award-winning nebuta are generally displayed at the Nebuta House Wa Rasse until they are replaced next year (with some exceptions).

How can I watch the festival?

The Nebuta route is fixed, and anyone can see the floats from the sidewalks along the route for free, with the exception of a few places where there are no paid spectator seats.

For example, some locals prefer to watch the Nebuta along the national highway because the road is wide and dynamic, while others prefer Shinmachi-dori, which runs from the front of the station, because the road is narrower and the Nebuta are closer to them.
Shinmachi Street is close to the Nebuta.
The streets along the route are crowded, so for those who want to see the Nebuta in a more relaxed atmosphere or for first-time visitors, individual seats for a fee are recommended. Individual bleacher seats are usually available at convenience stores nationwide from early July. For more information on paid bleacher seats, please visit the official website of the Aomori Nebuta Festival.
Aomori Nebuta Festival official website is here

No.2: Participate as a haneto and have fun!

One of the attractions of the Aomori Nebuta Festival is that tourists can not only watch but also participate in the festival.

Dancers called haneto jump around with the call of "rassera rassera" (rassera rassera). Tourists are welcome to participate as long as they are dressed in formal costumes. Some places will even dress you up, so please take this opportunity to try it on!♪
Haneto in formal attire (Nebuta House Wa Rasse)

How can I participate in Haneto?

Participation is easy! All you have to do is change into your costume and blend in with the Nebuta Haneto group waiting to go into battle. Of course, participation is free. Some groups do not allow people to jump in, so please feel free to ask around before you join. Also, since participation in the middle of the tour is also not permitted, please be on standby before the start time.
Waiting Nebuta
The jumping is like skipping, but you don't have to be bad at it! Watch the people around you and try to imitate them! You may even become friends with the locals who are jumping. ♪ You will most likely have sore muscles by the end of the festival, but you will be able to fully enjoy the fun of Nebuta by jumping.

Please refer to the official website of the Aomori Nebuta Festival for information on where you can borrow Nebuta costumes and the rules for participating in the festival.
Please come and join us!

No.3: Enjoy the daytime!

The Aomori Nebuta Festival is held at night except for the final day, but if you want to be fully immersed in the Nebuta during the day, we recommend the "Nebuta Guide" provided by the Aomori Nebuta Russelland Guide Team.
Nebuta Raseland
Take the seaside route from in front of the station
The Nebuta Guide Office is located behind the Aomori Prefectural Tourism and Products Museum ASPAM, a seven-minute walk from Aomori Station along the seafront, and offers free guided tours of the festival. You will be guided in detail about the origins and origin of Nebuta, how the festival works, and how Nebuta is made.

Applications: Tuesday, July 1 - Wednesday, August 6, 2025
Hours: 10:00 - 12:00 (last admission: 11:30), 13:00 - 15:00 (last admission: 14:30)
Applications: At the Nebuta House Information Desk Please apply directly
Reservations: Reservations can be made for individual visitors

[Notes]
・The number of people that can be guided at one time is limited to 10 people. We do not accept groups such as travel tours.
The guided tour is estimated to last approximately 20 minutes.
Photographing the Nebuta before they are completed (before the unveiling or raising of the dais) is prohibited.
Please do not interfere with the production staff in the Nebuta hut by talking to them.

Please refer to the official website of the Aomori Nebuta Festival for more details.

No.4: Enjoy Nebuta spots!

Let's enjoy every bit of the Nebuta festival in Aomori!

Nebuta House "Wa Rasse

A short walk from JR Aomori Station is Nebuta House Wa Rasse. In the paid area of the museum, you can learn about the Nebuta and see large Nebuta floats on display, including last year's award-winning Nebuta. While you may be overwhelmed by the dynamic Nebuta during the festival, you can take a closer look at the carefully crafted Nebuta at Wa Rasse and discover something new.
Nebuta House Wa Rasse (red building)
Large Nebuta floats in the pay area!
The staff also offers Nebuta music performances and hands-on Nebuta experience, so a visit at the right time is highly recommended. There are also many Nebuta-related souvenirs for sale.

For more information on admission fees, experience times, etc., please visit the official Nebuta House Wa Russe website.
Nebuta House Wa Rasse official website is here

Aomori Tourism and Products Museum ASPAM

The best place to visit at Aomori Prefectural Tourism and Products Museum ASPAM is the observation deck on the 13th floor! On display is a "stained glass-style Nebuta painting" created by Hiroo Takenami, a Nebuta artist (Nebuta master), who planned, created and supervised the original artwork, and Shigeki Tezuka, also a Nebuta master.
Aomori Prefectural Tourism and Products Museum ASPAM 13th Floor Observation Deck
Nebuta hut looking down from the observatory
The theme of this work is the 400th anniversary of the opening of the port of Aomori. It is a new approach that expresses stained glass while using the Nebuta technique. The black lines are made of black ink.

From the observatory, you can also look down to see the Nebuta being unveiled from the Nebuta huts during the Nebuta Festival.

Another recommended attraction at the Aomori Sightseeing Products Museum ASPAM is the "360° Theater" on the second floor. Here you can watch "The Soul of Aomori Festival (approx. 7 min.)," a powerful video presentation of festivals in Aomori Prefecture, including the Aomori Nebuta Festival. This is a set screening with seasonal videos.

Both the observation deck and theater are fee-based, but they are well worth a visit.
Aomori Sightseeing Products Museum ASPAM official website is here

We will bring you a special report of the Nebuta production this year as well!

Hiroo Takenami is working on this year's Nebuta for the JR Nebuta Project, and in 2023 he was selected as the 7th "Nebuta Meijin" in recognition of his efforts to date. He has received numerous awards, including the "Best Creator Award," given to the most outstanding Nebuta creator, and is also actively working on new projects such as stained glass-style Nebuta paintings.

For more information on Hiroo Takenami, please see the official website of the Hiroo Takenami Nebuta Research Institute below and last year's series of articles.
Hiroo Takenami Nebuta Research Institute official website

Here's a look at the current Nebuta

Here we will update you on the ongoing production of the "JR Nebuta Execution Project" Nebuta! *This photo was taken with special permission.

This year's Nebuta is "Nyuunryu: Calling the Wind". This year's Nebuta depicts Nyuunryu, the great hero of Suikoden, the golden-winged Oryu (dragon) that follows Nyuunryu, and the wind god.
White Nebuta in early June.
You can see how carefully they are made.
This is a pre-colored version, also called a "white Nebuta. You can clearly see the beauty of the modeling. There are many fans of the "White Nebuta" because they can take a good look at the delicate and bold workmanship. Even the smallest parts are carefully crafted. When the lights are turned on, the lines of the wire stand out clearly, making it look like a completed work of art.
White Nebuta with the lights on
Around mid-June
The white Nebuta has been inked! The "kakiwari" process of adding ink is unique to each nebuta artist, so please take the time to look carefully during the event. The white pattern in the photo above is the "wax writing" part. It is drawn with melted paraffin and comes to life when the lights are turned on. We are looking forward to seeing the Nebuta being completed little by little!
Late June
Colors are starting to appear on the nebuta! The colors make the Nebuta look much more gorgeous. Colors are not simply applied to the Nebuta, but are also applied by various techniques, such as blending the colors on a part of the brush with water, or spraying them on the Nebuta. Please pay attention to the details when you see the Nebuta.
Around the beginning of July
The coloring of the farewell procession
The coloring of the Nebuta is almost finished and nearing completion! They are so powerful, they look as if they are about to start moving! The back of the Nebuta, called the "send-off," has a subdued, ink painting-like atmosphere this year. The back of the Nebuta is called "Migori," and this year, it has a more mature look to it. The purple color will be applied to the whole area from now on, giving it a mysterious look, making it a perfect send-off for the summer.
In mid-July, we did the daiage in the hot sun. As the name suggests, daiage is the process of placing the nebuta on the dais on which they will be pulled on the day of the festival. Nebuta are very heavy and delicate, so many people work together to carefully place them on the dolly.
1. the stand on which the Nebuta will be placed 2～4. the parts are placed one by one!
The parts are now firmly in place!
Once all three parts are placed on the dolly, they are firmly secured and returned to the Nebuta hut to complete the raising! The Nebuta looks even more powerful when it is mounted on the dolly!
Nebuta before the lights are turned on
The lights have been turned on!
In late July, the lighting of the Nebuta was tested. In late July, a lighting test of the Nebuta was held. The Nebuta shining in the darkness was very beautiful! Many people were taking pictures of them... Aomori Nebuta Festival will soon be here! I am looking forward to seeing the dynamic and powerful Nebuta moving to the accompaniment of the musical accompaniment!

Nebuta Festival is hot again this year!

Summer in Aomori means the Nebuta Festival. It is the festival where people's energy is at its peak after a long winter. The festival is a must-see for all who come to Aomori this summer, and the sight of the heroic Nebuta glowing in the night sky, the sound of the musical accompaniment, and the energy of the many Haneto will surely be an unforgettable memory. Please come and enjoy this summer in Aomori♪.
Nebuta in full force!

Can't find a place to stay in Aomori? If you can't find a place to stay in Aomori...

Because the Aomori Nebuta Festival attracts visitors from all over Japan, it can be difficult to find accommodations. In such cases, you can go a little further and book accommodations in Hakodate or Morioka.

Combine your favorite train with lodging or a day trip plan for a great travel experience!

You can make your own original trip!

JR East View Dynamic Rail Package is a variable price individual travel product available only on the web. Depending on the timing and conditions of your application, you may be able to get a discount as early as the day of departure. We also offer one-day trip plans! Enjoy your own unique trip according to your schedule and purpose.
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