Japan’s Most Astonishing Summer Festival · Global Voices
Nevin Thompson

Screencap from Discover Nippon Official YouTube Channel.
The Aomori Nebuta Festival is one of Japan's biggest and most popular annual festivals. As the name suggests, it is held in Aomori, the capital city of the Aomori Prefecture on the northern tip of Honshu — though it also takes place in the old castle town of Hirosaki, where it's called the Nebuta Festival — and over three days in August, features dozens of thirty-foot-tall illuminated floats resembling famous historical and mythological Japanese characters. It is a spectacular sight, and of course results in equally astonishing posts on social media.
Aomori's Nebuta is One of Japan's 3 largest festivals. This large fancy warrior dolls are so Amazing!!! . . #三井寺合戦 新田四天王大暴れ 作: 北村 蓮明 #Nbuta #青森ねぶた #festival #ねぶた祭 #KSUKETRIP
A video posted by KSUKE (@ksuke_jpn) on
There are various theories about the origins of the Nebuta festival. It's argued the festival may be a variation of the Tanabata festival, typically celebrated in many parts of Tohoku, also during the month of August. Another theory suggests that the floats, drums and dancing have been passed down from more than a thousand years ago, when armies from western Japan traveled to the northeast to subjugate out the indigenous Emishi inhabitants of the region.
ねぶた〜〜めっちゃ良い席で見れて良かったよ〜〜迫力も凄かった〜〜. . #青森#ねぶた#ねぶた祭#お祭り#祭り#最高
A photo posted by yuka (@ukyuka) on
We're at the Nebuta Festival in Aomori. We snagged some great seats so we have a great view. It was super intense! #AomoriNebutaFestival #summerfestivals #thebest!
The early-August event in Aomori City attracts visitors from all over Japan, and from all over the world.
It's hard to imagine how big these things are… ねぶたの大きさがInstagramあまりわからないけど…
A photo posted by Jerel Henderson (@jerelh) on
The festival involves much more than just the giant, fantastically illuminated floats — flutes, drums and dancers all combine to create an unforgettable event. This year, one YouTube user uploaded an hour-long video that provides a good look at what the event involves:
An added bonus to this year's Nebuta Festival was that some Tokyoites got a taste of the event without having to travel all the way to Aomori. One community space in the capital city, Meguro Gajoen, hosted a two-month exhibition of Wa no Akari (Japanese-style illumination) in its culturally significant Hyakudan Kaidan (Hundred-Step Staircase) area.
和のあかりねぶた祭 #和のあかり #百段階段 #和のあかり百段階段展2016 #目黒雅叙園 #ねぶた祭 #目力 #迫力満点 #写真好きな人と繋がりたい #日本の夏 #夏の思い出 #夏の風物詩 #nikond600 #light #wp_japan #tokyo #airy_pics #instagramjapan #team_jp_flower #pics_jp #まつり #見応えたっぷり #retro_japan_ #pics_jp2016 #retro
A photo posted by Raka*(らか) (@rakafleur) on
Japanese-style illumination festival at the Hyakudan Kaidan in Meguro, Tokyo (2016) #wp_japan #tokyo #airy_pics #instagramjapan #team_jp_flower #pics_jp #retro_japan_ #pics_jp2016 #retro
久しぶりの目黒雅叙園 其の２ #四角い写真 #ねぶた祭 #目黒雅叙園
A photo posted by akinori.tsuru (@darknoid) on
I'm checking out Meguro Gajoen for the first time in a while: two floats are on display. #MeguroGajoen #NebutaFestival
Still, for many people who do make the trip to Aomori, the Nebuta Festival is the real thing — and a striking way to spend the summer:
[やってまれ、やってまれ〜〜] 北国の #夏祭り 、 #ねぶた祭 見に行きました .。. . 地上20メートルの #立ねぶた が、大迫力でしたよ〜.。. . 今週も夏を楽しみましょうね♡.。. . #北の国から2016 #祭 #夜祭り .。.
A photo posted by aiko (@hondaaiko0810) on
“Don't hold back! Don't hold back!” #SummerFestival in the north country. I went and saw the #NebutaFestival. The site of a sixty-foot-tall Nebuta float was amazing. Let's enjoy the rest of the summer!