Hirosaki Neputa Festival弘前ねぷたまつり

A summer procession in the castle town of Hirosaki, led mainly by fan-shaped ogi-neputa painted with warrior scenes and accompanied by flute, drum and the call "Yaa-ya-do."

From August 1 to 7, neputa large and small move through Hirosaki. From the 1st to the 4th they follow the Dote-machi route at night, on the 5th and 6th the station-front route, and on the final day, the 7th, a morning procession on Dote-machi is followed by the nanukabi-okuri along the Iwaki River. Lit from within, the fan-shaped floats show warriors on the front and graceful figures of women on the back.

According to Aomori Prefecture, neputa were once carried to the Iwaki River on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month and set adrift in a "sleep-banishing" rite (nemuri-nagashi). The earliest record dates from 1722 (Kyōhō 7), and the Hirosaki Tourism and Convention Bureau notes that 2022 marked 300 years since that record. "Hirosaki no Neputa" was designated a national Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property on January 28, 1980.

Source: 青森県教育委員会(external site, opens in a new tab) / 公益社団法人弘前観光コンベンション協会(external site, opens in a new tab)

Hirosaki City traces neputa to the custom of entrusting the drowsiness of the busy farming summer to lanterns and boats sent down the river. As fan-shaped and figure-shaped (kumi) neputa move together with musicians and pullers, the procession carries the summer prayers and pride handed down in this castle town. The preservation body is the Hirosaki Neputa Preservation Society.

Source: 弘前市（PR TIMES）(external site, opens in a new tab) / 青森県教育委員会(external site, opens in a new tab)

1. 01

   Ōgi-neputa (fan-shaped neputa)

   Fan-shaped lanterns with heroic figures from history and legend on the front and images of women on the back.

2. 02

   Kumi-neputa (figure neputa)

   Sculptural figure-type neputa that parade alongside the fan-shaped floats.

3. 03

   The "Yaa-ya-do" call and festival music

   The chant rises with the flutes and drums as the floats advance.

4. 04

   Nanukabi-okuri

   The closing observance along the Iwaki River on the final day, August 7.

The preservation body is the Hirosaki Neputa Preservation Society.

• Hirosaki Neputa Festival【東北・青森】弘前ねぷたまつり2025

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Routes and start times vary by day. The festival generally goes ahead in rain; check the Hirosaki Tourism and Convention Bureau for the latest information. Drones are prohibited over the parade routes.

Traffic controls, seating and fees change every year. Always check the official website for the latest information.

Official website — hirosaki-kanko.or.jp(external site, opens in a new tab)

• Do not fly drones over the parade routes, as the organisers request.
• Keep clear of the path of the floats and the pullers.
• Follow the stewards' instructions along the route.

• National designation · 1980

  Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property

  Designated subject: Hirosaki no Neputa（Festival as a whole）

  Source: 弘前のねぷた - 青森県庁(external site, opens in a new tab)

1. 1.弘前ねぷたまつり｜公益社団法人弘前観光コンベンション協会(external site, opens in a new tab)公益社団法人弘前観光コンベンション協会 · Accessed 2026-09-26
2. 2.弘前のねぷた - 青森県庁(external site, opens in a new tab)青森県教育委員会 · Accessed 2026-09-26
3. 3.【青森県弘前市】弘前ねぷたまつりを2026年8月1日（土）から7日（金）まで開催(external site, opens in a new tab)弘前市（PR TIMES） · Accessed 2026-09-26
4. 4.Hirosaki - Wikipedia(external site, opens in a new tab)Wikipedia · Accessed 2026-09-26

• 

  Fan-shaped ōgi neputa floats painted with warriors glowing against the night sky in Hirosaki

  Photographer

  Rosino

  Source

  Ōgi Neputa 2.jpg(external site, opens in a new tab)

  Licence

  CC BY-SA 2.0(external site, opens in a new tab)

• 

  A fan-shaped neputa painted with a warrior and horse, lit from within at dusk

  Photographer

  Kaburamata

  Source

  Hirosaki Neputa 2018.jpg(external site, opens in a new tab)

  Licence

  Public domain(external site, opens in a new tab)

• 

  Close-up of the vivid warrior painting on the face of a fan-shaped neputa

  Photographer

  Rosino

  Source

  Ōgi Neputa.jpg(external site, opens in a new tab)

  Licence

  CC BY-SA 2.0(external site, opens in a new tab)

• 

  Drummers striking the giant Tsugaru Jopparidaiko drum during the Hirosaki Neputa parade

  Photographer

  Aoiwaaki

  Source

  Hirosaki Neputa Festival 02.jpg(external site, opens in a new tab)

  Licence

  CC BY-SA 4.0(external site, opens in a new tab)