What it is
Goshogawara is a small city on the Tsugaru plain in western Aomori. In the Meiji period its merchants built huge neputa lantern floats, so tall they could be seen from far away. When electric wires came to the streets, the floats grew smaller, and the tradition was forgotten.
In the 1990s, old photos and drawings were found, and the city rebuilt the giant floats. The festival returned in 1998 as the Tachineputa, the “standing neputa”. Today three giant floats, each more than 20 metres tall, are pulled through the streets at night, lit from within and towering above the buildings.
The festival at a glance
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Aug 4–8, 19:00–21:00 | Tachineputa parade: The giant floats and many smaller ones parade through the city each evening |
Which day should you go?
Any evening
Every night has the full parade. Watch as the floats leave the Tachineputa no Yakata hall.
What to look for
The giant floats
Three huge floats, each more than 20 metres tall, tower over the street.
Leaving the hall
The floats are stored in a tall hall, and its great doors open to let them out.
The chant
Pullers and dancers shout Yatte mare! Yatte mare! as they go.
Getting there & where to stay
| From | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Aomori | JR Ōu and Gonō lines to Goshogawara | about 1–2 h |
| Tokyo | Tōhoku Shinkansen to Shin-Aomori, then JR to Goshogawara | about 5 h |
On the day. The floats leave the Tachineputa no Yakata hall, a few minutes on foot from Goshogawara Station, at about 19:00.
Crowds. Trains on the Gonō Line are infrequent. Check the last train before the parade starts.
Where to stay
Goshogawara
Few hotels, but you can stay for the whole parade.
Hirosaki
A castle town with more rooms and its own Neputa festival at the same time.
When to book. Rooms across Aomori fill for early August. Book 4–6 months ahead.
Times are typical fastest routes. Check current timetables before you travel.
Practical tips
- Museum. If you can't come in August, the Tachineputa no Yakata hall displays the floats all year.
- Combine. The Aomori Nebuta and Hirosaki Neputa are held at the same time.
Glossary
Nebutaねぶた
A huge float of painted paper over a frame, lit from inside, paraded at night in Aomori.
Matsuri祭り
A Japanese festival, usually held for the kami of a local shrine. The word comes from the idea of serving and entertaining the gods.
References
- Tachineputa no Yakata: about the Tachineputa.
- Goshogawara City tourism: Goshogawara Tachineputa.
Last checked 2026-10-13.