Goshogawara Tachineputa
五所川原立佞武多 · Goshogawara
The 'tallest' of Aomori's three great Nebuta festivals: giant three-dimensional lanterns about 23 m tall and weighing about 19 tonnes (about seven storeys) parade to cries of 'Yattemare!' — you have to tilt your head back to take them in, and the sense of scale is unique. Their themes mostly come from kabuki and mythology, and once lit at night they look like deities descending.
Know before you go
- Taboos: calling it 'Aomori Nebuta' (locals will earnestly correct you: 'that's Tachineputa'), cutting across the towing teams during the parade, and climbing the lantern platforms.
This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
In the Meiji era, wealthy locals competed to build tall lanterns, and around 1907 works of 20 m or more appeared; the tradition was later lost to the spread of power lines and wartime destruction, then revived in 1998 from old drawings and photographs. Being 'tachi' (built upwards) is what sets it apart from Aomori Nebuta (built outwards) and is Goshogawara's calling card; with Aomori and Hirosaki it is one of Aomori's three great Nebuta festivals.
Local customs
- The lanterns are extremely tall, so watch out for overhead wires and tow ropes, and stay out of the towing area
- 'Yattemare' (roughly 'go for it!') is a cheering call you can shout along with
- don't touch the washi surface of the lanterns
- don't fire strong flashes straight at them during the night parade. When a lantern turns through a narrow street, step back as directed by the staff.
Religion & beliefs
- It grew from the Tanabata custom of floating lanterns away and the 'nemuri-nagashi' ritual for driving off evil, with a strong folk-religion character
- new works often draw on Japanese mythology (such as Susanoo, and the 2026 new work 'Sarutahiko Ōkami'), carrying meanings of warding off evil and clearing the way. 'Sarutahiko Ōkami' symbolises guiding the way and carries the city's hopes for revival.
Etiquette
Etiquette & taboos
Don’t DON'T
Taboos: calling it 'Aomori Nebuta' (locals will earnestly correct you: 'that's Tachineputa'), cutting across the towing teams during the parade, and climbing the lantern platforms.
Locals appreciate DO
- Locals are proud of 'the tallest lanterns in Japan'
- Goshogawara and Aomori City have a friendly 'Nebuta rivalry', each proud of its own festival
Plan your visit
Practical info
| 2026 dates | August 4 – 8, 2026 |
|---|
Travel tips
- The best viewing spots are along both sides of the narrow streets in the city centre, where you can shoot the giant lanterns up close from below
- by day, visit the 'Tachineputa no Yakata' first for the permanent exhibition
- roads on the parade route close from early evening
- it's walkable from JR Goshogawara / Tsugaru Railway stations
- it can be combined with the Aomori Nebuta Festival (2–7 August), so book accommodation early. [to verify]
2026 schedule
- 4 August (Tue) – 8 August (Sat) 2026 [to verify]
- held every year on fixed dates, 4–8 August
- 2026 sees the debut of the new large tachineputa 'Sarutahiko Ōkami'
- 2027 dates are yet to be announced. Sources: J-CAST / Hankyu Travel 2026 summer-festival schedules, Aomori TV live-broadcast listings.
Maps & transport notes
- Search Google Maps for 'Tachineputa no Yakata', the permanent exhibition hall and festival base (central Goshogawara)
- the parade route circles the streets of the city centre. It's about a 10-minute walk from JR Goshogawara Station
- visit the hall by day, then claim a spot along the route in the early evening.
Eat nearby
What to eat nearby
Must-try
- Apple desserts / juice
- Scallop / seafood skewers
- Niboshi ramen
Yatai snacks, apple desserts / juice, scallop / seafood skewers, niboshi ramen, Tsugaru horse-meat hotpot (licensed restaurants, a nearby style), shaved ice
| Where to eat | Yatai and izakaya around the parade route, restaurants by Goshogawara Station, café meals in the Tachineputa museum |
|---|---|
| Dining etiquette | Don't enter or eat and block the route of the giant lanterns; you can join in the 'Yattemare' chant, but don't rush the procession |
| Typical price per person | Yatai JPY 1,500–3,000 ≈ CNY 68–135 |
| Tips | The museum shows tachineputa and serves food all year; during the festival (early August), restaurants by the station are full — book first. |
Prices are typical rates as of October 2026, not exact quotes; CNY equivalents are approximate where exchange rates fluctuate.
Tail furry · CC BY-SA 4.0
Sources & verification notes
J-CAST / Hankyu Travel 2026 summer-festival schedules and Aomori TV information, researched and verified on 2026-10-16. The 2027 schedule has not yet been announced.
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