Northern Japan · Aomori · Hirosaki
Hirosaki Neputa Matsuri
弘前ねぷたまつり
Some seventy illuminated floats, most of them fan-shaped and painted with warriors from Chinese epics, parade through a castle town.
Next
1–7 August 2027
276 days away
Every year, 1 August, for 7 days
Future dates: 1 August 2027 · 1 August 2028 · 1 August 2029
Origin
According to the city of Hirosaki, it grew out of nemuri-nagashi — "sending sleep downstream" — in which farmers, fighting off the drowsiness of the busy summer season, set their sleepiness adrift on the river on boats and lanterns. The local tourism association describes it as a farmers’ rite in which a whole village joined together to wash its misfortunes and evils into the water and send them away. It was designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property in January 1980. The floats have always been put out by neighbourhood associations, and in the weeks of building, children come home from school, drop their bags at the door and run to the float shed to help with the work or practise the music.
What to look for
Around seventy floats, large and small, move through the streets to the chant of Yā-yā-dō. Most are ōgi-neputa, fan-shaped lanterns whose faces are painted with warriors from the Chinese epics Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Water Margin; a few are kumi-neputa, built as three-dimensional figures. The small ones go first and the floats grow larger as the night goes on — "the big neputa come last," as the saying has it. The largest stand over nine metres tall, and the crew riding on top call out directions to edge them past power lines and signboards. Each float is followed by its band of flutes and drums. Children carry kingyo-neputa, small lanterns shaped like the Tsugaru-nishiki goldfish once bred in the domain. On the night of the 7th, on the bank of the Iwaki River, the nanukabi-okuri purifies the floats in fire.
How to watch
Do not step out onto the route or cross it, do not block the pavement to watch, and do not stake out a spot where it gets in people’s way. No smoking or selfie sticks in the crowd. Drones are banned. The organisers do encourage you to shout Yā-yā-dō along with the float crews, and to wave and cheer at the people riding on top of the big floats.
If you go
The festival runs from 1 to 7 August every year. The evening parades are on the 1st to the 6th, starting at 7 p.m.: on the Dotemachi route from the 1st to the 4th, and on the station route on the 5th and 6th. On the last day, the 7th, the floats go along Dotemachi in the morning, and the nanukabi-okuri follows that evening on the riverbank (cancelled in rain). The evening parades go ahead in rain; when a warning or advisory for heavy rain, storms or lightning is in force, the call is made at 5 p.m. Check that year’s parade guide for which groups go out on which day. Some groups let visitors join in and pull the ropes — you apply to the group itself; the Hirosaki City Tourist Center can put you in touch.
Where
Central Hirosaki (Dotemachi and the station area)
Hirosaki, Aomori
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