# Hirosaki Neputa Matsuri

> Fan-shaped lanterns with a warrior scene on the front and a quieter figure on the back, paraded through Hirosaki in early August.

- Prefecture: Aomori
- Type: Lantern
- Admission: Free to attend
- Typically held: Held every year from 1 to 7 August.
- Official site: https://www.hirosaki-kanko.or.jp/

## Dates

- 2027-08-01 to 2027-08-07
- Status: confirmed
- Dates verified on 2026-08-20 from https://www.hirosaki-kanko.or.jp/

Aomori city and Hirosaki hold neighbouring festivals in the same week and they are not the same thing. Aomori's nebuta are three dimensional warriors and the mood is loud. Hirosaki's neputa are flat fans, and the mood is closer to a procession than a party. The fans are painted on both sides. The front carries a battle scene in hard reds and blacks; the back, called the miokuri, is usually a single quiet figure, often a woman, and you only see it once the lantern has passed. That is the whole design: the fight comes towards you and the calm follows it away.

## Where it happens
- Hirosaki Castle

## FAQ

### When is Hirosaki Neputa?

From 1 to 7 August every year, which overlaps the Aomori Nebuta festival an hour away by train.

### What is the difference between neputa and nebuta?

Hirosaki's neputa are flat fan shapes painted on both sides. Aomori's nebuta are three dimensional figures built on wire frames. Same week, one hour apart, quite different evenings.

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Source: Hirosaki Neputa Matsuri — Japan Voyage