Goshogawara Tachineputa Festival

The Goshogawara Tachineputa Festival is held annually from August 4 to August 8 in Goshogawara City, Aomori Prefecture. As one of the region’s three primary neputa festivals, it is distinguished by the extraordinary vertical scale of its displays. While other Aomori festivals feature wide, horizontal floats, Goshogawara is famous for its “Tachineputa,” which stand approximately 23 meters tall—equivalent to a seven-story building—and can weigh up to 19 tons.

The history of these towering structures dates back to the Meiji era, when merchants competed to build the tallest floats. However, the tradition was lost for decades following devastating fires and the installation of overhead power lines. In 1998, the festival was revived after old blueprints were discovered. This led the city to relocate its power lines underground specifically to accommodate the return of these massive icons to the streets.

During evening processions, three massive Tachineputa depicting mythological figures are paraded through the city. Constructed from wire and washi paper, these structures are illuminated from within to create a vibrant glow. The parade is characterized by the vigorous “Yattemare, yattemare!” chant and the beat of taiko drums. The floats are housed year-round in the Tachineputa no Yakata museum, which features a grand hall and doors that roll the giants directly onto the streets.

Goshogawara is accessible from Shin-Aomori Station via the JR Ou Line and JR Gono Line, or by a 60-minute highway bus from Aomori City. The main parade route circles the downtown area near Goshogawara Station. Because the festival is one of the most popular in Tohoku, hotel rooms in the city are typically reserved a year in advance; many visitors stay in Aomori City and take the festival-specific “Nebuta” trains.