Hirakawa Neputa Festival 2025

August 1st – 4th: Dotemachi Course, Parade begins at 19:00
August 5th – 6th: Station Front Course, Parade begins at 19:00
August 7th: Dotemachi Nanukabi Course, Parade begins at 10:00

Event date:
August 1, 2025 at 12:03 am
Event end:
August 7, 2025 at 12:03 am

The Hirosaki Neputa Festival is a spectacular summer tradition held annually in the historic castle town of Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture. Celebrated from August 1st to 7th, this vibrant event features over 80 elaborate fan-shaped floats (neputa), showcasing heroic and fantastical warrior paintings. The festival has been designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan since 1980.

Festival Origin and Features
The origins of Neputa trace back to a local custom called Nemuri Nagashi, a ritual to drive away sleep demons during the intense farming season. Over time, lanterns and music evolved into today’s neputa—grand illuminated floats depicting scenes from folklore and mythology.

Each neputa has a gallant “kagamie” (front image) and a graceful “miokuri” (rear image). They are paraded through the streets, accompanied by the stirring rhythms of taiko drums and flutes, played by groups of citizens from local neighborhoods.

Festival Highlights
The parades begin with smaller floats and progress to larger, more dramatic displays. Among the crowd favorites are:

The towering neputa, some as tall as 9 meters, maneuvering skillfully through city streets.
The Ōdaiko (giant taiko drums), including the legendary Tsugaru Joppari Ōdaiko, which is 3.3 meters in diameter and weighs 2 tons.
The Goldfish Neputa, charming floats held by children and modeled after Tsugaru Nishiki goldfish.

Schedule and Venues