Nebuta Museum WA RASSE & Goshogawara Tachineputa Museum
NEBUTA MUSEUM WA RASSE
Every year between August 2 – 7 the streets of Aomori City in Tohoku's northernmost prefecture has become lively with the sound of music and dancing, as excited locals parade giant 3D lantern-floats (called 'Nebuta') around the downtown area of the city. While being at the festival itself is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, visitors to the city have the opportunity to experience the atmosphere of the festival all year round at the Nebuta Museum WARASSE, located just outside JR Aomori Station.
Not only can visitors take in the impressive sight of 4 full-sized Nebuta floats that participated in the previous year's festival, but they can join in the interactive performances of festival music and dancing or even try their hand at papering part of the floats!
HANETO EXPERIENCE
Try dancing to the 'Hayashi' (festival music) like one of the Haneto dancers. Visitors can also try playing the taiko drums and other instruments used in the festival.
Daily times: ① 11:00 am ② 1:00 pm ③ 3:00 pm
※ duration approx. 30 mins.
NEBUTA PAPERING EXPERIENCE
Learn about the structure and construction process of the floats though the Nebuta Papering Experience.
Daily times: ① 10:00 am ② 2:00 pm
※ duration approx. 30 mins.
Hours:
(May-August) 09:00-19:00
(September - April) 09:00-18:00
Closed:
31st December - 1st January (whole facility),
9th -10th August (Museum closed for changing of the floats on display. Shop and restaurant open.)
ACCESS
Located just a 1 min walk from JR Aomori Station.
Address:
〒030-0803 Aomori-shi Bunka Kankou Kouryuu Shisetsu, Aomori-shi Yasukata 1-1-1
GOSHOGAWARA TACHINEPUTA MUSEUM
Lesser known than Aomori's Nebuta festival but certainly no less dramatic is the incredible Tachineputa (standing Neputa) festival of nearby Goshogawara City, held Aug 4-8 every year. In contrast to the wide floats of the Nebuta festival, the Tachineputa are incredibly tall, with some floats reaching dizzying heights of up to 24 metres tall, and 19t in weight!
For those who cannot line up their visit with the festival, it is worth a trip to 'Tachineputa no Yakata', the float museum, to see two of the massive floats up close! A spiraling ramp circles the floats allowing visitors to see each part of the creation in great detail from both above and below. Hands on craft activities are also available at the onsite studio and workshop for guests to create their own lucky 'kingyo neputa' (traditional goldfish shaped neputa lanterns) to take home with them.
KINGYO NEBUTA LANTERN MAKING
Available all year round between 10:00 - 12:30 and 13:30 - 16:00
Hours:
(April – September) 09:00 - 19:00,
(October – March) 09:00 - 17:00
Special hours: 4 - 8 August (Festival period) 09:00 - 17:00;
31 December 09:00 - 15:00
Closed: 01 January
ACCESS
Located just a 5 min walk from JR Goshogawara Station.
Address: 〒037-0063 21-1 Omachi Goshogawara-shi Aomori
