Aomori Nebuta Festival 2011

Aomori Nebuta Festival

This festival is held annually and features colorful lantern floats called nebuta which are pulled through the streets of Central Aomori. This festival is held from about August 2-7 every year. This event attracts millions of visitors. During this festival, 20 large nebuta floats are paraded through the streets near Aomori JR rail station. These floats are constructed of wooden bases and metal frames. Japanese papers; washi, are painted onto the frames. These amazing floats are finished off with the historical figures or kabuki being painted on the paper. These floats can take up to a year to complete. There is a dance portion of this festival. There are haneto dancers and they wear special costumes for this dance. Everyone is welcome to purchase their own haneto costume that they may too join in on the fun (Mishima, Aomori Nebuta Festival)      (Courtesy of Wiki.)

  My video, sorry no flash.

I was pretty excited to go to this festival in Aomori.  It's roughly about 1 hour 45 minutes away from our house.  We caravaned (is that a word?) it with some friends and the scenery is beautiful.  There is a wall of huge greener than green trees on the way.  There was rice patty greenery that Berto and I joked had to be photo shopped.  Hahaha.  Also, the hills and mountains well off in the horizon we decided were 100% photo shopped.  HA, you need to understand our weird humor.  =)  

Once we got to Aomori, we drove around and all over the place looking for parking.  I think we drove at least 1 hour trying to find something!  We had a 9 year old and his dad that had recently had knee surgery so walking wasn't ideal.  The temp was 82 degrees but it felt pretty damn humid.  By the time we parked (I made Berto stop somewhere that was for housing.  At this point, I didn't care!) we were ready to go!  On the walk, we stopped at a conbini to use the bathroom after being in car for 3+ hours.  Of course there was a huge line.  We bought some refreshments to enjoy at the parade that would be cheaper than buying at a vendor.  We ended up finding a pretty good spot.  There was soo many people!  I didn't realize how huge this festival was.  I wished I could ask people where they parked!  

The floats are pretty elaborate and beautifully detailed.  Apparently they spend a year making them, and on last day of Nebuta Festival- they burn them!  They are really pretty and have lights within, the illuminating of them was so pretty.  Definitely a night parade experience.  There are many people carrying the floats, it seems so unstable. I'm sure it wasn't but I kept expecting a crash!  Especially with the biiru that was flowing!!  We wanted to get some great festival food but were pretty limited to the area just around us.  The crowd was way to thick to walk around.  But the six of us had a great time and took many pictures.  We got happy with the haneto dancers/festival go-ers who jump out in the parade.

Overall, a really great night!  We had soo much fun!  =)

BTW: We are really excited to go to Tokyo for Sumo wrestling next month!  And we'll be going on our free day to Fuji-Q Highland Amusement park. (Holy crap!!).

http://www.fujiq.jp/en/attraction/

Also, should be getting tickets tomorrow to go to a Sendai baseball game and a tour to Kakunodate.  A beautifully preserved Samaurai District known as "Little Kyoto".  Yeah, super excited!  

Thanks for reading!  I miss you, mom, Ana, and Lisa!!!  xoxo