Aomori’s Nebuta Fesitval goes online tonight

Though one of the nation’s biggest summer festivals was cancelled earlier this month, there is an opportunity to enjoy a piece of it online today.

Aomori’s Nebuta Festival is famous for traditional lantern floats. Thousands travel up north for the yearly festival where 20 or more lantern floats parade down the main street of Aomori City. So beloved are these floats that there is even an entire museum devoted to the paper mâché and wooden creations called the Nebuta House “Wa Rasse” in the city.

Though officials had cancelled the annual festival again this year, nine floats will be paraded for an online competition event Aug. 27 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Viewers will be able to catch the displays as well as the members of the community carrying the floats dressed in traditional attire.

Don’t miss the show by visiting the website. Check out the floats and see which three are awarded gold, silver and bronze medals.

Though this year’s online competition is scaled down, in previous years the Nebuta Festival features over 20 elaborate lantern floats depicting human and historical kabuki characters. For more about Nebuta Festival, visit here.

If you are in or around Misawa AB, make sure to add the Nebuta House “Wa Rasse” museum to your list of attractions to see the floats up close.

Nebuta House “Wa Rasse”
Location: 1-1-1 Yasukata, Aomori City, Aomori Pref.
Tel: 017-752-1311
Website