2024 AOMORI NEBUTA MATSURI

NAGAOKA FIERWORKS

Date: August 2-7

Aomori Nebuta Festival, one of Japan's most famous summer festivals

◆ The Aomori Nebuta Festival is one of Japan's most famous summer festivals, held in Aomori Prefecture, located in the north of Honshu.
This festival takes place at night, and giant lanterns float up in the city at night, while dancers called haneto parade through the town shouting chants, creating a fantastical and passionate atmosphere.
With this plan, you won't just watch the Nebuta Festival as a spectator, but will actually take part in the festival as a "Haneto" dancer!
Don't worry, your English guide will give you a lesson on how to wear the costumes and how to participate in the festival!
Aomori Nebuta Festival Homepage
Travel cost (per person)…
18,000 yen

Recommended points of the plan

Participate as a dancer in the Aomori Nebuta Festival!

You will take part in the dynamic Nebuta Festival as a dancer. Only those wearing the designated costumes can participate as dancers!

You can rent all of the costumes for the dancers! You can even walk around town in the costumes!

You can rent a full set from the flower hat to the tabi socks. Of course, an English guide will help you put on the costume. After you're dressed in your formal attire, you can enjoy a walk around the town!

Perfect as a souvenir! Festival goods included!

We will be giving away a Japanese folding fan, a must-have for the hot summer, and an original towel from "Japan burari trip"!

Aomori Nebuta Festival Tour

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[Aomori Nebuta Festival] Experience participating in the Nebuta Festival! Includes rental of a dancer costume! You can become a dancer and participate in the Nebuta Festival! (Group A gathers at 14:00)

Costume rental included
Limited edition festival goods included
Meet at Aomori Station
[Monday, August 5th, Tuesday, August 6th]

[Included] Costume rental, "Japan burari trip" original festival goods included

Travel fee: per person
18,000 yen

End of sales

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[Aomori Nebuta Festival] Experience participating in the Nebuta Festival! Includes rental of a dancer costume! You can become a dancer and participate in the Nebuta Festival! (Group B meets at 14:30)

Costume rental included
Limited edition festival goods included
Meet at Aomori Station
[Monday, August 5th, Tuesday, August 6th]

[Included] Costume rental, "Japan burari trip" original festival goods included

Travel fee: per person
18,000 yen

End of sales

Learn more about the Aomori Nebuta Festival

About the Aomori Nebuta Festival

What is the Aomori Nebuta Festival?

Nebuta, known as one of the three major festivals in the Tohoku region, is held every year in early August in Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture.
It is Japan's most famous summer festival and has been designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan.
The giant, illuminated, human-shaped lanterns are called nebuta. They are placed on floats and paraded through the town accompanied by dancers called hanetomono.
Wearing flower hats decorated with lots of bells and flowers on their heads, yukata sashes and tabi socks, the dancers jump around the Nebuta while shouting "Rassera, rassera" to the sound of flutes, livening up the atmosphere.
The gigantic and impressive Nebuta floats and the energetic jumpers become one, and their fiery heat surges right into your heart.
Enjoy the moment when the short Tohoku summer burns brightly.

The origin of the Nebuta Festival

There are several theories about its origin, but one is that it originated from a farming event called "Nemuri Nagashi," in which farmers wash away the sleepiness and laziness that hinders the busy summer farm work. The word Neputa is also thought to have evolved from this "Nemuri Nagashi" into "Nemutanagashi," "Nemuta," and "Neputa."

History of the Nebuta Festival

Records of Nebuta in Aomori include those from around the Kyoho era near Yukawacho where people carried lanterns and danced in imitation of the Neputa Festival in Hirosaki.
Since the Meiji period, nebuta, lanterns in the shape of dolls, have become mainstream in Aomori and have become larger. Carry-type nebuta were the norm until the beginning of the Showa period, but it was only after the war that they became as large as they are today.
It was designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan in 1980.

About the formal attire of the haneto

1. HANAGASA

It's a beautiful umbrella with flowers and bells.

2. YUKATA

It is a type of traditional Japanese clothing that is commonly worn at hot spring inns and summer festivals.

3. TASUKI

This string keeps the sleeves of your yukata in place so they don't get in the way.

4. SHIGOKI

This is a decorative obi that is wrapped around and hung down under the obi.

5. OKOSHI

It is worn under a yukata.

6. TABI

They also serve the same purpose as socks for Japanese clothing.

7. ZOURI

These are sandal-like footwear worn with Japanese clothing.

access

Access

Location of the Nebuta Festival in Aomori City

Aomori City belongs to Aomori Prefecture and is located about 720km north of Tokyo.

By train

from Tokyo From Tokyo Station or Ueno Station, take the Tohoku-Hokkaido Shinkansen bound for Shin-Aomori or Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto.
Please change trains at Shin-Aomori Station and board the train bound for Aomori. Get off at Aomori Station. The journey between Tokyo and Shin-Aomori takes about 200 minutes, and between Shin-Aomori and Aomori takes about 7 minutes.

By car

from Tokyo It takes about 10 hours via the Tohoku Expressway.

By plane

from Tokyo ANA and JAL operate flights from Haneda Airport to Aomori Airport.
From Osaka ANA and JAL operate flights from Osaka Itami Airport to Aomori Airport.
From Nagoya FDA operates flights from Nagoya Komaki Airport to Aomori Airport.

Accommodation on the day of the Aomori Nebuta Festival

During the festival, accommodations in and around Aomori city will be extremely crowded and difficult to make reservations.
Hotels around Morioka Station, a Shinkansen stop, tend to have relatively frequent vacancies, so we recommend traveling from Aomori to Morioka and staying there.
It takes about 7 minutes by conventional train from Aomori Station, where the festival is held, to Shin-Aomori Station on the Shinkansen line. It takes about 1 hour by Shin-Aomori Station to Morioka Station. It takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes by Shinkansen from Morioka Station to Tokyo Station.

Venue

Route

The venue is in the center of Aomori city, about a 10-minute walk from Aomori Station. The Nebuta parade takes place along a 3.1-kilometer route.

The route map is for 2023. The map is taken from the official Nebuta Festival website.

Sample Plan

Model Plan

  • 9:36 Departure from Tokyo Station
    ##Take the Tohoku-Hokkaido Shinkansen Hayabusa No. 13 to Shin-Aomori Station.
  • 12:34 Arrived at Shin-Aomori Station
    Arrived at Shin-Aomori Station. Transfer to the local train to Aomori Station.
  • 12:53 Arrived at Aomori Station
    After arriving at Aomori Station, exit the station and head left to visit Nebuta House Wa Rasse (fee: 620 yen for adults) to see the exhibits and history of the Nebuta Festival.
  • 14:00 Meet up with staff
    We met up with the JAPAN BURARI TRIP staff in front of the east exit ticket gate of Shin-Aomori Station.
  • 14:30 Move to the costume rental shop
    Change into your dance costume at the costume rental shop. Your luggage will be stored at the kimono shop.
    Afterwards, you will have free time to relax and enjoy a stroll around the city, including lunch in your costume.
  • 18:30 Regroup and festival begins
    We regrouped in front of the kimono shop and joined the Nebuta group.
    Join the Nebuta group and enjoy participating in the spectacular Nebuta Festival.
  • 21:00 Festival ends
    The festival ends and the rented costumes are returned.
  • 21:47 Departing from Aomori Station
    ##Take the train to Shin-Aomori Station. After arriving at Shin-Aomori Station, transfer to the Shinkansen.
  • 22:20 Departing from Shin-Aomori Station
    Take the Tohoku-Hokkaido Shinkansen Hayate 102 (special train during the festival) to Morioka Station.
  • 23:13 Arrive at Morioka Station
    After arriving at Morioka Station, I stayed at a hotel near the station, and took the Shinkansen to Tokyo Station the next day.

FAQ

Q&A

  • Q. Can I participate in the festival without wearing a costume?

    To participate in a festival, you must wear a festival costume.
    If you are just visiting the festival, dress code is optional.

  • Q. Can I do it as a day trip from Tokyo?

    It takes about 3 hours and 20 minutes by Shinkansen from Tokyo to the festival venue in Aomori city. The festival ends at night, so if you are traveling from Tokyo, you will need to stay overnight.

  • Q: What happens if it rains?

    The Nebuta floats are covered with large plastic bags, so they will not be cancelled even in the rain. The parade has never been cancelled before.

  • Q. Can I store my valuables while I am participating in the festival?

    We cannot accept valuables. Please refrain from bringing expensive jewelry or watches, and only bring the bare minimum.

  • Q. Can I return the rental costume before the festival ends?

    The Nebuta parade ends at 9:00 p.m., but you are free to stop participating before that time. You can return your costumes at any time.

  • Q. I am a large person, are there costumes in my size?

    It's no problem if you're big. Our staff will dress you in a yukata no matter what your body type is. Please enter your height and shoe size in advance via the URL in the automatic reply email.

  • Q. Can I participate wearing sneakers?

    Sneakers are not permitted. You must be dressed formally. Rental tabi socks and sandals are available.

  • Q. Do they only wear underwear underneath their jumping costumes?

    Underwear is fine, but if you are concerned, some people choose to wear a thin inner layer on top.

  • Q.Are there any souvenirs you would recommend?

    Aomori Prefecture is the largest producer of apples in Japan, and apple juice and apple sweets such as pies are popular souvenirs.
    The fishing industry is also thriving, and processed seafood products using squid, scallops, and other seafood are famous.