[2025 Hirosaki ] Travel Guide for Hirosaki Neputa Matsuri (Updated Jul)

If you plan to go to the Tohoku Summer Festival this summer and experience a different Japan, you can save travel expenses by using the Tohoku JRPASS for several great festivals. By the way, the Tohoku Shinkansen will merge and separate in Morioka, which is also a must-see scenery. First of all, let’s talk about the most beautiful scenery in the Tohoku Summer Festival-the Morioka Sansa Dance Festival, which is held on Central Avenue from August 1 to August 4 every year. Not only does it have the Guinness World Record for the largest number of people and the drum parade, but also the annual Sansa Dance Miss will participate in the parade. According to legend, in ancient times, there was an evil ghost that had been invading this area, and the residents were miserable, so they went to ask the gods of the Mitsuishi Shrine for help. After the gods subdued the evil ghost, they asked him to put handprints on three stones to promise not to make trouble again. This is also the origin of "Iwate Prefecture". After the evil ghost was subdued, the residents happily danced around the stones and shouted Sansa, Sansa, which also became the origin of the Sansa Dance. Since the summer festivals in Tohoku are concentrated in early August, the following is a five-day itinerary for reference: Day 1 (8/3): Use JR Pass to take the 9:54 or 10:14 Shinkansen from Tokyo Ueno to Morioka, which takes about two hours. After arriving, you can first taste the famous Morioka cold noodles. This cold noodle with watermelon is chewy, salty and sour, and finally eat a bite of watermelon to cool down. After dinner, check in at the hotel or store your luggage, and then visit the Iwate Bank Red Brick Museum and Morioka Hachimangu Shrine. In fact, during the festival, there will be a Japanese drum team performing in front of the station at noon to welcome tourists. 📍Address: 11-2 Uchimaru, Morioka, Iwate 020-0023 Japan In the evening, you can go to the Yatai Street to buy some festival food and drinks, and then walk to the Central Avenue, have a picnic, and wait for the festival to come at 6 pm. Day2 (8/4): In the morning, there is still some time to visit Sakurayama Shrine and feel the protective power built next to the ruins of Morioka Castle, and then walk around the park to see Morioka Castle. Take the 11:59, 12:09, or 12:26 Shinkansen to Aomori Hachinohe. First store your luggage at the station and have lunch first. Starting at 3 pm, there will be a Sansha Festival, a portable shrine and a float parade. 📍Address: 1 Chome-1-1 Uchimaru, Hachinohe, Aomori 031-0075 Japan After feeling the lively atmosphere of the festival, you can take the 17:14 Shinkansen to Shin-Aomori and then transfer to Aomori. After checking in at the hotel, participate in the lively Nebuta Festival. You can also give up the Sansha Festival and take the 12:09 or 12:47 Shinkansen to Shin-Aomori to transfer and choose to stay in Hirosaki. Then go to Aomori to visit the product hall and see the daytime sleep demon. Watch the festival until 8 o'clock in the evening, take the bus back to Hirosaki, and enjoy another fan-shaped sleep demon festival. 📍Address: 1 Chome Central, Aomori, 030-0822 Japan Day3(8/5): If you live in Hirosaki, you can visit Hirosaki Castle in the morning, and then visit the Tsugaru Domain Sleep Demon Village to see the fan-shaped sleep demon craft. Then take the JR Ou Main Line to Akita, which takes about 2 hours. After checking in, you can go to the Namahage Museum to see the unique folk customs of the Oga Peninsula, or enjoy the lotus in Senshu Park. At night, you can enjoy the only competitive Kanto Festival in the Tohoku summer festival. 📍Address: Japan 〒010-0921 Akita, Omachi, 1 Chome−6−41 Kamiyamachi 1-chome Public Hall Day4(8/6): In the morning, you can use the time to visit Kakunodate Samurai House and experience the Little Kyoto of Mutsu, or go to Nyuto Onsen, and return to Tokyo the next day. You can also take the 13:13 or 14:06 Shinkansen to Sendai. After checking in, you can go to Hirose Street to experience the beautiful decorations of the Tanabata Festival. If the trip is made one day in advance, you can also enjoy the fireworks show on 8/5. 📍Address: 3 Chome-2 Ichibancho, Aoba Ward, Sendai, Miyagi 980-0811 Japan Sendai's edamame milkshake, edamame mochi, and beef tongue are all delicious. Don't miss them. Use JRPASS to return to Tokyo the next day. The Tohoku version of jrpass is not cheap, but if you look at the itinerary, it should be worth the price. #MayGoodPlaces2025

The sound of flutes fills the summer night with a fiery celebration. If you've already visited major cities, why not head to Aomori? The Nebuta Festival held in early August each year is sure to leave you in awe. Legend has it that the origins of the Nebuta Festival date back to the 8th century, when General Sakanoue no Tamuramaro used giant lanterns, drumbeats, and flute sounds to confuse the enemy during battles with the Emishi. This traditional festival has been passed down through generations, becoming a symbol and historical mark of Aomori. The giant lanterns are divided into two styles: Aomori's three-dimensional lanterns, which incorporate historical figures and exude an imposing aura, and Hirosaki's fan-shaped lanterns, which highlight the beauty of painted designs. As the floats pass traffic lights and power lines, they are raised and lowered to avoid obstacles. Pulled by manpower, the giant lanterns are intentionally rotated and moved back and forth at intersections, allowing spectators to experience the awe-inspiring presence of the floats. For the Aomori Nebuta Festival, you can start your evening at ASPAM and Blue Sea Park to admire the intricate floats. These areas also feature food stalls typical of festivals, where you can grab a bite and enjoy a cold beer. Then, head to the city center intersections to await the arrival of the Nebuta Hayashi, a group of dancers shouting "Rassera" accompanied by drum and flute performances, followed by the giant lanterns of the Nebuta Festival. I personally started my afternoon in Aomori, enjoying the lanterns and the Nebuta Festival for an hour before heading to Hirosaki to catch another Nebuta Festival. I stayed overnight in Hirosaki, allowing me to experience two distinct festival atmospheres in one evening. The 2025 Nebuta Festival will be held from August 2nd to August 7th. 🚗 Aomori Nebuta Festival: A 15-minute walk from JR Aomori Station; Hirosaki Nebuta Festival: A 2-minute walk from Chuo Hirosaki Station on the Konan Railway.

Aomori's Nebuta Festival is very famous, but in the Tohoku region, festivals are held all at once in the beginning of August in various places. I visited Hirosaki without knowing anything about it. Hirosaki Neputa was completely different from Aomori Nebuta, but it was still very impressive. The festival was wonderful, and the unity and enthusiasm of the town was transmitted to my body. The sound of the drums resonated in my chest, and I felt very comfortable. It was a moment when I felt that I am Japanese and that Japanese culture is wonderful. Hirosaki is about 50 minutes by JR from Aomori Station, so if you have the time, I recommend enjoying both festivals. Festivals are held in other areas as well, and I heard that Hachinohe is amazing as well. I learned a lot and it was a wonderful experience. #Hirosaki #Neputa #Aomori #Festival

In October 2023, I stayed in Hirosaki and went to Lake Towada. Aomori Prefecture was a very attractive prefecture! When you think of Hirosaki, you think of "Hirosaki Neputa". At "Neputa Village" near Hirosaki Castle Park, you can learn about the charm of the Neputa Festival. It is an experiential tourist spot where you can also beat the drums. There were several places in Hirosaki that were famous for their old buildings. The Starbucks near Hirosaki Castle was a stylish building from the outside, unlike other stores. If you are staying for a few days, be sure to get out of Hirosaki and visit other areas. This time, I went to the Towada Art Center. After seeing the wonderful works, go to the park across the street. There are many works by Yayoi Kusama, and the pop designs of the works will make your heart dance. And when you think of Aomori, it's apples 🍎 You can eat ingenious apple pies at many shops. There is also a map of apple pie shops around the city, so why not find your favorite one? Aomori Prefecture is full of great things to see and do, so be sure to check it out! #besttrip2023

Summer Festival ~ Japan's Tohoku Hirosaki Bodhisattva Festival This is one of the four major festivals of Hirosaki, with "Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival", "Hirosaki City Chrysanthemum and Red Leaf Festival", "Hirosaki City Snow Lantern Festival" Known for juxtaposition. Nearly 100 gorgeous lanterns with the theme of samurai paintings such as the Three Kingdoms and the Water Margin, are carried by the local citizens in the streets and lanes, and the summertime is very lively. Look at these lanterns, the painters are very sophisticated, and each piece is a gorgeous piece of art. With the accompaniment of the flute and the Taiko, the crowds watching on both sides shouted slogans and interacted together. The scene was very exciting. As a media shooter, I was fortunate enough to receive a local invitation to participate in the ceremony, which is generally not to be experienced. Take the Taiko drum to pull the lantern and leave too many good memories for yourself. Tips~2019, this festival starts from August 5th to 6th and starts at the station line Central Avenue (near Hirosaki Post Office) Hirosaki Station Omachi Ueda The order of the town is around.

The Hirosaki Sleeping Magic Lantern Festival will be held for one week each year from August 1st to 7th. The shape of the sleeping demon in different places in Aomori is different. In Hirosaki, it is a fan-shaped sleeping demon. It is said that because the priest is the fan of the letter, the lanterns are mostly fan-shaped, and the three kingdoms of the Chinese dynasties are painted on the surface of the lantern. The legend of the otter heroes and the Japanese samurai, the back is a beautiful portrait, the characters are vivid and the colors are quite vivid, and each work is accompanied by a detailed introduction of the author.