Festivals and Fireworks : Aomori Prefecture




Summer in
Northern
Tohoku

Aomori Prefecture
Festivals and Fireworks
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Experience
Hiking
Camping
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Iwate Prefecture
Festivals and Fireworks
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Experience
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Akita Prefecture
Festivals and Fireworks
Flowers
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Lake Towadako Kosui Festival (Towada City)

This high summer festival, held in the deep green and brilliant blue of Lake Towadako, comes to a climax with a blazon of fireworks lighting up the night sky. Enjoy the view from beautifully illuminated cruise boats gliding over the lake.
Dates: Jul 14 (Fri) - Jul 17 (Mon)
Location: Yasumiya (next to Lake Towadako)
Access: 2 hrs 30 mins by car from Aomori Sta.
Information: Lake Towadako Kosui Festival Exec. Cmte. 0176-75-2425

Osorezan Grand Festival (Mutsu City)

Osorezan ranks alongside Wakayama's Mt. Koya and Shiga's Mt. Hiei as one of Japan's most sacred spots. This great summer festival is marked by by mediums called itako channeling the departed for visitors from around Japan.
Dates: Jul 20 (Thu) – 24 (Mon)
Access: 43 mins by Shimokita Kotsu bus from Shimokita Sta.
Information: Osorezan Office 0175-22-3825

Hirosaki Neputa Festival (Hirosaki City)

Brilliantly colored warrior- and fan-shaped floats decorated with heroic and dramatic scenes snake through the city streets to a lively chant.
Dates: Aug 1 (Tue) – 7 (Mon)
Access: Detrain at Hirosaki Sta.
Information: HIROSAKI MUNICIPAL TOURIST CENTER 0172-37-5501

Hachinohe Sansha Taisai Festival (Hachinohe City)

This three shrine festival has a history of more than 280 years. The procession of more than 20 floats with subjects from kabuki and legend is not to be missed.
Dates: Jul 31 (Mon) – 4 (Fri)
EVE: JUL 31
Access: 5 mins on foot from Hon-Hachinohe Sta.
Information: Hachinohe Tourism Assoc. 0178-23-4771

Goshogawara Tachineputa Festival (Goshogawara City)

The 22-m, 16-ton floats of this festival tower high enough to have been visible from neighboring towns and villages in the past. And they continue to offer quite a spectacle as they make their way through the city.
Dates: Aug 4 (Fri) – 8 (Tue)
Access: 10 mins on foot from Goshogawara Sta.
Information: Goshogawara Chamber of Commerce 0173-35-2121

Misawa Festival (Misawa City)

The three shrines of Yakushi, Fudo, and Unryu participate in this summer festival. On the eve, a festival music contest is held, and a number of floats make a round trip tour of the city, accompanied by music performed by children. Beginning the following day, a costume parade and an international summer festival with participation by local U.S. expats to deepen international relations highlight the agenda.
Dates: Aug 17 (Thu) – 20 (Sun)
Eve: Aug 21 (Thu)
Locations: Misawa City (Festival)
Access: 10 mins by bus from Misawa Sta.
Information: Misawa Chamber of Commerce 0176-53-2175

Kuroishi Neputa Festival (Kuroishi City)

With the most floats in all of Aomori, Kuroishi's Neputa features both fan-shaped and human-shaped floats. Both styles are dramatically, gorgeously ornamented, making these summer nights memorable.
Dates: Jul 30 (Sun) - Aug 5 (Fri)
Location: Kuroishi City
Access: Take Konan Tetsudo from JR's Hirosaki Sta. to Kuroishi Sta.
Information: Kuroishi Jr. Chamber of Commerce 0172-52-3369

Aomori Nebuta Festival (Aomori City)

In what may well be Japan's most well known fire-prevention festival, tens of thousands make their chanting, dancing rounds through the streets of Aomori, accompanying the magnificent floats for which Nebuta is most famous. A fireworks display and marine Nebuta parade are held on the final day.
Dates: Aug 2 (Wed) - Aug 7 (Mon)
Nebuta Float Parade: Aug 2 (Wed)- Aug 6 (Sun) 18:50 - 20:40; Aug 7 (Mon) 13:00 - 15:00
Marine Nebuta Parade: Aug 7 (Mon) 19:00 - 20:30
Fireworks: Aug 7 (Mon) 19:00 - 20:3
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Location: Downtown Aomori
Access: 10 mins on foot from Aomori Sta.
Information: Aomori Tourism and Convention Association 017-723-7211

Tosa no Sunayama Festival (Goshogawara City)

This festival held in Shiura's Jusan area is highlighted by its Bon Odori, heir to a long tradition of Buddhist religious dances. In addition to other dances, there is also a chance to help pray for good catches with a boat ride around the harbor.
Dates: Aug 14 (Mon) - Aug 15 (Tue)
Location: Jusan, Shiura
Location: 1 hr by car from Goshogawara Sta.
Information: Goshogawara Tourism Assoc. 0173-38-1515

Minmaya Yoshitsune Festival (Sotogahama Town)

Legends surrounding Minamoto no Yoshitsune, one of Japan's most famous folk heroes, relate that he fled through Minmaya northward to Hokkaido, escaping the wrath of his vengeful brother Yoritomo, the eventual first shogun of Japan. This two-day festival recreates the romance of Japan's past with events including a parade of Yoshitsune and his band of followers.
Tentative Dates: Aug 14 (Mon) - Aug 15 (Tue)
Location: TBA
Access: TBA
Information: Minmaya Tourism Assoc. 0174-37-2002

Kuroishi Yosare - One of Japanfs 3 Great Dances (Kuroishi City)

Yosare is one of the Tsugaru Peninsula's best-known folk songs. In this festival, three thousand dancers perform most famous summer dance, Bon Odori, to this fabulous melody, parading through streets that maintain a flavor of medieval Japan.
Dates: Aug 15 (Tue) - Aug 17 (Thu)
Aug 17: Fireworks only
Location: Kuroishi City
Access: Take Konan Tetsudo from JR's Hirosaki Sta. to Kuroishi Sta.
Information: Kuroishi Tourism Assoc. 0172-52-3488

Tanabu Festival (Mutsu City)

One of the largest festivals held on the Shimokita Peninsula is highlighted by a parade of graceful floats through the city, accompanied by the musicians on board.
Dates: Aug 18 (Fri) - Aug 20 (Sun)
Location: Tanabu, Mutsu
Access: 10 mins by bus from Tanabe Sta.
Information: Mutsu Division of Industry, Commerce, and Tourism 0175-22-1111

Fukaura Sea Festival - The Golden Sea of Japan (Fukaura Town)

Boat races and balancing acts over the sea are some of the highlights of the Sea Festival's dynamic events. If that is not enough to pique your interest, how about prize money?
Date: Aug 14 (Mon) - Aug 15 (Tue)
Location: Fukaura Sunset Park
Access: 10 mins on foot from Fukaura Sta.
Information: Fukaura Tourism Assoc. 0173-74-2111