Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse, Aomori

See the giant nebuta lantern floats of Aomori's summer festival up close all year, a minute's walk from Aomori Station, even out of festival season.

Large illuminated nebuta float of warriors displayed in the dark hall of Wa Rasse — Photo: Yoshio Kohara, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Close-up of a glowing nebuta float showing a fierce warrior holding a sword — Photo: Yoshio Kohara, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

What is the Aomori Nebuta Festival?

The Aomori Nebuta Festival is a summer festival held in Aomori city from 2 to 7 August every year. In 1980 it was designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan, and it counts as one of the Tohoku region's signature festivals.

The stars of the show are the nebuta: giant lanterns made by pasting washi (Japanese paper) over a frame of wire and wood and lighting them from inside. They depict scenes from kabuki theatre, Chinese legends and local folklore, and the largest are about 9 m wide and 5 m tall. The craftspeople who make them are called nebuta-shi (nebuta masters). Around the floats, dancers called haneto leap about, chanting "Rassera!"

What you can see at Wa Rasse

Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse was built by the city of Aomori to preserve the Aomori nebuta and pass the tradition on, and it opened on 5 January 2011. The main attraction is its display of real, full-size nebuta used in the festival: floats you would look up at from a distance in the parade, you can study at close range here.

As well as exhibits on the history of nebuta, there are programmes such as trying the haneto dance and the ohayashi (the festival's drum and flute music), and performances by festival music groups. Days and content vary, so check the events information on the official website.

A building beside Aomori Port

Architects from abroad were involved in designing the building, and in 2011 it won the Japan Institute of Architects' Tohoku Architecture Award. It stands on the waterfront facing Aomori Port, surrounded by shops and cultural facilities.

Getting there

It is about a one-minute walk from JR Aomori Station. From Aomori Airport it takes about 40 minutes by bus to Aomori Station.

Opening hours vary by season, and there are also occasional closing days (it is closed on 11 October 2026). Check these, along with admission charges, on the official website.

Tips

This is the perfect place if you cannot make the festival from 2 to 7 August. If you are going to the festival, come here first to learn how to look at the nebuta, and the real thing will be even more fun.
It is right next to Aomori Station, so it is easy to drop in while waiting for a train or before you leave Aomori.
If you want to take part in the festival as a haneto dancer, the official Aomori Nebuta Festival website has information on costume hire and the rules for joining in.