Hirosaki Neputa Festival

The Hirosaki Neputa Matsuri is a traditional summer festival held annually from August 1 to 7 in Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture. Recognized as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan, the event features a procession of approximately 80 illuminated lanterns, known as neputa, through the city’s streets.

The festival’s origins are traced to the Nemuri-nagashi ritual, a folk custom intended to banish sleepiness and lethargy during the demanding summer harvest season. While the neighboring Aomori Nebuta is famous for large, three-dimensional floats, Hirosaki is distinguished by its ogi-neputa—fan-shaped lanterns that can reach heights of up to nine meters.

These lanterns are decorated with detailed paintings. The front side, or kagami-e, usually depicts dramatic scenes of warriors from classical Chinese and Japanese literature. The reverse side, known as okuri-e, typically features a portrait of a woman or a landscape. The floats are moved through the city to the rhythmic accompaniment of large taiko drums, flutes, and hand cymbals, with participants shouting the traditional “Ya-ya-do” chant.

The festival concludes on the evening of August 7 with the Nanuka-bi Okuri, where lanterns are ceremonially paraded along the river. This final act symbolizes the purification of the community and the washing away of misfortune before the change of seasons. The event is noted for its focus on traditional craftsmanship and its historical continuity within the Tsugaru region.