The Hirosaki Neputa Festival (sometimes spelled as nebuta) is an annual event held in Aomori Prefecture during early summer, and it features large, colorful illuminated floats that are paraded through the city. If you're not scheduled to be in this part of Japan during that timeframe, the Hirosaki Neputa Festival in Kobe offers a glimpse into the festival for those in Hyogo Prefecture.
The event is set to include a large neputa float display, neputa festival music performances, tourism information about Hirosaki and the wider Aomori area, local mascot appearances, and plenty more.
Please note that the operating hours differ on each day of the three-day festival (2026):
- May 29: 6:30pm–9pm
- May 30: 10am–9pm
- May 31: 10am–2pm
Getting there
Kobe Harborland is located just five minutes on foot from Kobe Station, which is served by the Tokaido Main Line and the Sanyo Main Line.
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