Aomori Nebuta Matsuri (青森ねぶた祭)

A Dazzling Parade of Light and Tradition in Northern Japan

If things had gone according to plan, I would have attended this unforgettable event last year—
The Aomori Nebuta Matsuri, one of Japan’s most iconic traditional festivals.

Held annually from August 2 to August 7 in Aomori City, this vibrant celebration features giant illuminated floats known as Nebuta (ねぶた) parading through the streets. These massive lantern floats, often shaped as dramatic warriors, mythological figures, or gods, are made from bamboo frames and intricately covered with painted washi (traditional Japanese paper).

Although Nebuta festivals are also held in nearby cities like Hirosaki and Goshogawara, the Aomori City edition is by far the most renowned and grand in scale.

One of the Tōhoku Region’s “Three Great Festivals”

Together with Sendai’s Tanabata Matsuri and Akita’s Kanto Matsuri, the Aomori Nebuta Matsuri is considered one of the Three Great Festivals of Tōhoku, a culturally rich region in northern Japan. Though the festival became officially known as the “Aomori Nebuta Matsuri” in 1958, its roots as a folk celebration date back centuries.

Giant Lantern Floats that Spark Awe

The highlight of the festival is the parade of Nebuta floats—some over 5 meters tall and stretching across 8 meters in length, built to navigate the city’s roads and overhead wires. At their peak, some Nebuta even reached 20 meters high before size regulations were introduced for safety and logistics.

Beginning with smaller community-led floats on August 2–3, the main Nebuta parade kicks off on August 4, showcasing around 20 elaborately crafted floats. Over 3 million visitors from Japan and abroad gather each year to witness this breathtaking spectacle.

A Celebration of Community and Creativity

What makes the Aomori Nebuta Matsuri so unique is its deep community involvement. Local neighborhood associations, youth groups, and businesses sponsor and participate in the event. The logos of these sponsors are displayed on the floats, showing how companies contribute to and support the local culture.

Each float is not only a visual masterpiece, but also a representation of local pride. The residents are not just spectators—they are the creators, performers, and hosts of the festival.

The Grand Finale: Nebuta on the Sea

The festivities last for six days, regardless of the day of the week. On August 1, a special pre-event celebration is held, followed by the main parades starting August 2. The final day, August 7, features a daytime parade and a spectacular nighttime finale where the top seven award-winning Nebuta floats are placed on boats and showcased during a water parade, followed by a dazzling fireworks display over the bay—closing the festival with beauty and brilliance.

Festival Details at a Glance

Item	Details
Location	Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture, Japan
Dates	Annually from August 2 to August 7
Type	Traditional Folk Festival, Lantern Parade
Main Features	Giant illuminated floats (Nebuta), parades, community participation, fireworks
Annual Visitors	Approx. 3 million
Youth Events	Children’s Nebuta parades (Aug 2–3)
Grand Finale	Water parade & fireworks (Aug 7 night)

If you're a fan of lantern art, community-driven festivals, or looking for inspiration for Hanji exhibitions or cultural crossovers, the Aomori Nebuta Matsuri is a perfect example of how tradition, creativity, and community spirit come together to illuminate the night.

The Eve of the Nebuta Festival—the Zenyasai—begins around 6 PM on August 1st at the special stage in Aoi Umi Park. This pre-event evening features musical performances, community talent shows, and a celebratory unveiling of the Nebuta floats stored in temporary warehouses called “Nebuta Goya.” Visitors can admire each illuminated float up close before they begin their grand journey through the city streets.

Nearby, an exhibition space marked by striking red lines by the harbor offers another immersive experience—one well worth exploring during this magical time of year.

🇯🇵 From Aomori to the World

The Nebuta Festival was first introduced in Korea in 2009, at the Seoul Lantern Festival, where it captivated local audiences with its dynamic artistry and cultural depth. While it was presented as part of a friendship exchange between cities, it also aligned with Seoul’s strategic ambition to elevate the festival into a global cultural brand. Since then, countries such as Japan, Singapore, China, and the Philippines have participated actively in lantern-related exhibitions across Seoul.

A Cultural Powerhouse Backed by the Nation

What I find most admirable—and perhaps a bit enviable—is the level of support the Aomori Nebuta Festival receives from both national and local governments.

• In 1963, the festival was designated as a Cultural Asset by Aomori City.

• In 1980, it became a Nationally Recognized Important Intangible Folk Cultural Asset.

• Since 1995, the festival has introduced an awards system to honor the best float creators.

• As early as 1963, Nebuta parades were held internationally, beginning with Hawaii, and later expanding to Italy, France, the UK, China, and beyond.

Today, it seems that China has taken up the mantle, using its "Sky Lantern" (天灯, Tiāndēng) festivals as a form of soft-power diplomacy, elevating its cultural brand through grand exhibitions around the globe. I can’t help but admire how strategically and powerfully they wield cultural content on the world stage.

And What About Us—Korean Hanji Lanterns?

It is bittersweet to reflect on this.
Despite the superior craftsmanship, elegance, and historical depth of Korea’s hanji lanterns, even within Korea, Chinese lanterns are often used due to cost and logistical convenience. Sometimes, I see press releases boasting about exporting Korean lantern festivals abroad, only to find that what’s being shown is not our own tradition—a bit like a Korean wearing a qipao to perform on the world stage.

Our hanji (traditional Korean paper) is not only beautiful but deeply meaningful—rich with historical significance and expressive possibilities. What it needs now is consistent institutional support, strategic cultural policy, and global cultural branding.

I hope that more effort is made to preserve, innovate, and globalize Korea’s hanji lantern culture. With enough support, we too can become the cultural torchbearers of the future—illuminating the world not with imitation, but with the brilliance of our own light.

Maybe next year, I’ll finally get to visit the Aomori Nebuta Festival in person. But until then, I’ll continue dreaming—with hanji in hand.