Aomori Nebuta Matsuri
(Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture, August 2–7)

The festival gets its name from the huge illuminated paper floats called nebuta that parade through the main streets of the city. The floats depict heroic figures from history. They are accompanied by large groups of exuberant dancers, many of them dressed in traditional straw hats. The festival is said to hark back to Tanabata celebrations traditionally held in the seventh month of the traditional East Asian calendar. More than 3 million people visit over the five days of the festival. (For more on the Nebuta Matsuri, see: “Festival of Light: Experiencing the Nebuta Matsuri”.)

Official homepage: Aomori Tourism and Convention Association