2024 edition! The highlight of the festival is the colorful Nebuta and Haneto [Aomori Nebuta Festival] How to enjoy it?

  • Aomori
  • Sightseeing
2023 JR Nebuta execution project "Gokyushimano no Tametomo" (Nebuta Production/Hiroo Takenami)

Let's enjoy Aomori Nebuta again in 2024!

The Aomori Nebuta Festival is coming up in 2024! During the Aomori Nebuta Festival, huge floats called "Nebuta" parade along 3.1 km in the center of Aomori City, accompanied by drums and music. The giant 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.

The Aomori Nebuta Festival is not only a sight to see, but there are also many elements that tourists can enjoy, such as being able to participate as a haneto on the day of the festival or observing the Nebuta before the festival begins.

Aomori Nebuta Festival 2024 Schedule

Thursday, August 1: eve of the festival
18:00 - 21:00 (tentative) (Venue: Aoi Sea Park Special Stage)
Various contests and events will be held. Food stalls, etc.

August 2 (Fri.), 3 (Sat.)
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 (Sun.) - 6 (Tue.)
18:45- (Departure from the intersection of the first Nebuta Shinmachi Yanagi-cho)
Operation of large Nebuta (approx. 20)

August 7 (Wed.)
13:00~ (Departure from Shinmachi Shinmachi Yanagimachi intersection)
Operation of large Nebuta (approx. 20 units to be operated)

19:15-21:00 (Venue: Aomori Port)
The 70th Aomori Fireworks Festival and Nebuta Sea Operation

* Schedule is for FY 2024. Please check the official website for the latest information.

How to enjoy Aomori Nebuta Festival

No.1: Watch! Listen! Enjoy!

Vividly colored Nebuta (Nebuta production by Hiroo Takenami)
The Aomori Nebuta Festival is best enjoyed first by watching and listening to the floats. The sight of the huge, colorful floats moving one after another in front of you is a sight to behold. The sound of the flutes, drums, and hand 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").

Nebuta is a once-in-a-lifetime event. Most Nebuta are torn down after the festival, so if you find one you like, please take pictures of it and enjoy the festival.

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

How can I watch the festival?

The course of the Nebuta is fixed, and anyone can watch it from the sidewalks along the course for free, except for some places where there are no paid spectator seats. For example, some people prefer to watch the Nebuta along the national highway because it is wide and dynamic, while others prefer Shinmachi-dori, which runs from the front of the station, because it is narrower and you can get closer 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 HP is here

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

Haneto in formal attire (Nebuta House Wa Rasse)
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!♪

How can I participate in Haneto?

Waiting Nebuta
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.

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.

No.3: Enjoy the daytime!

AOMORI NEBUCO FESTIVAL 2024

AOMORI NEBUCO FESTIVAL 2024 Poster
NEBUCO production image
NEBUCO production image
NEBUCO production image
This year, the "AOMORI NEBUCO FESTIVAL 2024" will be held for the first time. NEBUCO" refers to a work created using the Nebuta creation technique. The event will feature NEBUCO created by 15 Nebuta makers, focusing on the "expression" of the water, flames, animals, swords, clothing, decorations, patterns, and other details that make up Nebuta, as well as the unique Nebuta "techniques".
This year's theme is "Waves. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Hakkouda Maru, the Seikan Liaison Ship Memorial Ship, and the 400th anniversary of the birth of Minato Machi, or the city of Omori, will be celebrated from 2025 to 2026. The exhibition will be held from July 31 (Wed.) through August 12 (Mon., holiday) on the Hakkouda Maru, the Seikan Liaison Ship Memorial Ship near Aomori Station. Please visit
*This event will not be held after 2025. Please check the official website for the latest information.
AOMORI NEBUCO FESTIVAL 2024 Official HP is here
Seikan Liaison Ship Memorial Ship Hakkouda Maru

Nebuta Raseland

Nebuta Raseland
Take the seaside route from in front of the station
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, the Aomori Nebuta Russelland Guided Tour by the Nebuta Guides is recommended. 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. You will be guided in detail about the origins and origin of Nebuta, how the festival works, and how Nebuta is made.

Registration: Monday, July 1 - Tuesday, August 6
Time: 10:00-12:00, 13:00-15:00 (last reservation: 14:30)
Application: Please apply directly to the information desk
Reservation: For individual visitors Reservations can be made for individual visitors.
*For details, please see the following notes

[Notes]
・Due to the number of people that can be guided at one time, groups are not accepted.
・A guided tour lasts approximately 20 minutes.

For details, please see the official website of "Nebuta House Wa Rasse" below.
Nebuta House Wa Rasse Official HP is here

No.4: Enjoy Nebuta spots!

Let's enjoy Aomori Nebuta to the fullest! Here are some other Nebuta spots within walking distance from JR Aomori Station.

Nebuta House "Wa Rasse

Nebuta House Wa Rasse (red building)
Large Nebuta floats in the pay area!
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.

The staff also offers Nebuta musical performances and hands-on Nebuta experience, so a visit at the right time is recommended. There are also many Nebuta-related souvenirs for sale.

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

Aomori Tourism and Products Museum ASPAM

Aomori Prefectural Tourism and Products Museum ASPAM 13th Floor Observation Deck
Nebuta hut looking down from the observation deck
Aomori Sightseeing Products Museum ASPAM recommends the observation deck on the 13th floor! The "Stained Glass Style Nebuta Pictures" created by Hiroo Takenami, a Nebuta artist (Nebuta master), and Shigeki Tezuka, also a Nebuta master, are on display.

This work was created to commemorate 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 Aomori Sightseeing Products Museum ASPAM is the "360° 3D Theater" on the second floor. Here you can watch "The Soul of Aomori Festival (approx. 7 min.)," a powerful visual presentation of festivals in Aomori Prefecture, including the Aomori Nebuta Festival.

Both the observatory and the theater require a fee, but they are well worth a visit.
Aomori Sightseeing Products Museum ASPAM Official HP is here

Here is a special report on the Nebuta production this year!

Here we will update you on the ongoing production of the "JR Nebuta Project" Nebuta! This year's Nebuta is "Ashigara no Kintoki (Kintoki of Ashigara), Raikou ni osuite (Follow Raikou)". It depicts Kintoki Sakata (son between Akaryu and Yamamba), known as Kintaro, and Yorimitsu Minamoto.

This Nebuta is a symbol of the hope that infectious diseases will subside and people will travel freely in search of encounters, and that the world will become a more vibrant place.

This year, Hiroo Takenami is again working on the Nebuta for the JR Nebuta Execution 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" for the most outstanding Nebuta creator, and is also actively involved in new projects such as stained glass-style Nebuta painting.

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 HP

Click here to see the current Nebuta!

Nebuta at the time of the interview in early June
In early June, this is a Nebuta in its pre-colored state, also known as a "white Nebuta. The lines of the wire are clearly visible, and the delicacy and boldness of the modeling is fascinating! The Nebuta are carefully crafted down to the smallest detail, such as the tips of the fingers, and they also have an outstanding power that only a Nebuta can have! Even without the color, you can feel the power of the Nebuta. It is fascinating in this state, but I can't wait to see how the color will change!
Around mid-June
This is the process of "shobiraki," the process of putting ink into the paper. It takes a lot of work to make a nebuta, so many staff members are involved in its production, but the calligraphy process is very important, so Mr. Takenami, the nebuta artist, basically does it all by himself. The vivid colors and powerful shapes of the Nebuta attract the eye, but the way the ink is applied also shows the individuality of each Nebuta artist, so it is recommended to pay attention to this aspect as well.
Around the end of June
This is where the coloring is done. The coloring is done carefully one by one, using brushes of different shapes for different parts of the painting, and using different methods of application. Because the Nebuta are so large, sometimes the coloring is done in an acrobatic pose. Nebuta are basically operated at night with lights on, so they are often colored with the lights inside. As the colors are gradually added, it feels as if the Nebuta is coming to life, and I am very much looking forward to the completion of the project.
Around mid-July
Most parts of the Nebuta have been colored and are almost complete! When the lights are turned on in the dark, the red body of the main character, Kintoki Sakata, comes to life in vivid color. The Aomori Nebuta Festival is just a few days away! The sounds of musical performances and drumming practice can be heard around the area, and the festive mood is growing in Aomori City.
(Around the end of July) 1. the platform from which the Nebuta is pulled 2-4. the Nebuta are lifted up to the platform by joining forces
The Nebuta is lifted onto the stand and secured firmly in place!
In late July, a daiage (raising the dais) was held in front of the Nebuta hut! Daitage is the process of placing the Nebuta on the platform on which they are pulled. The nebuta will look down on the audience from the dais during the festival, so the nebuta masters make sure that the nebuta looks its best when placed on the dais. This makes the raising of the dais a tense moment for the nebuta masters. This year's Nebuta of the "JR Nebuta Project" is a very large one, and the main character, Sakata Kotoki, is even more powerful when he is on the dais! I'm really looking forward to seeing the lights come on in this state!
Nebuta before the lights come on
People waiting for the lights to be turned on
The Nebuta Festival is just a few days away! I went to the Nebuta lighting ceremony held just before the festival! At the lighting ceremony, people from related parties and the general public gather around, eagerly waiting for the lights to be turned on.

Not all the lights on the Nebuta are turned on at once, but they are turned on little by little, and each time the lights are turned on, there is an uproar of cheers.
Lights on the lanterns and dragons...
Almost there!
When all the parts of the Nebuta are lit up, the audience naturally bursts into applause! The contrast between the bright red body of Lord Sakata and the blue lights was beautiful!
All parts of the Nebuta are now lit!
The Nebuta are a sight to behold on their own, but seeing them in action during the festival has a different charm, so be sure to come and see them in action!

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 tourists from all over the country, it can be difficult to find accommodations. In such cases, you can go a little further and JR East View Dynamic Rail Package accommodations in Hakodate or Morioka.

Take your favorite train and lodging combination for a budget-friendly trip!

You can create your own original trip!

The " JR East View Dynamic Rail Package " is a variable-price individual travel product sold exclusively through the Internet that allows you to choose your train and accommodations freely and make a reservation at once. Depending on the timing and conditions of your reservation, you may be able to save even on the day of departure at the earliest! We also offer one-day trip plans! Please enjoy your own trip according to your schedule and purpose.

Click here for details

For train + accommodation in Aomori and surrounding area, please book with " JR East View Dynamic Rail Package "

The Nebuta Festival is hot again this year!

The Nebuta in full swing!
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 visitors to Aomori, and the sight of the heroic Nebuta floats glowing in the night sky, the sound of the festival music, and the lively atmosphere of the many Haneto will surely be an unforgettable memory. Please come and enjoy the summer in Aomori this year!
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