Wineshark Japan Tour Hotspots - Nebuta Museum Wa-Rasse ねぶたの家 ワ・ラッセ

Address: 青森県青森市安方1-1-1

Tel: 017-752-1311

Website: http://www.nebuta.jp/warasse

Date of Visit: 31 Oct 2019

Driving for a short distance we reached the next stop - Nebuta Museum Wa-Rasse (ねぶたの家 ワ・ラッセ ).  Introducing the history and charms of the Aomori Nebuta Festival, which is held every year during 2-7 August, the museum allows visitors to experience every aspect of this famous festival even if they are not able to come during that period.

There are many theories regarding the origins of the festival, but the most popular one is that it originates from the syncretism of the Tanabata Festival's Toro Nagashi (floating lantern) and the custom of 'Nemuri Nagashi'. The latter was seen nationally as a custom to ward off the sleep demons, the enemy of farmwork, said to cause drowsiness during the busy farming season of summer. The word Nebuta is thought to be a corruption of the word 'Nemuri'. Every year about 20 large-sized Nebuta floats are made for the procession and during the festival Haneto dancers will accompany the floats in parade, attracting over 2 million people to the city.

Entrance fee is 620 yen per person, and there is a large parking space outside the museum. Parking fee is 220 yen for the first hour and 110 yen for each subsequent 30 minutes. After walking up a flight of steps to the second floor, there is the Aomori Nebuta Tunnel which shows the festival origins and history, as well as creation process of the floats. Photos of past prize-winning Nebuta are also on display.

Further along it is the Nebuta Fall of Fame. In recognition to Nebuta artists who have contributed significantly to the festival, the title of master was bestowed, and so far there are only 6 people who are granted the honor. Here some of their works and a video about these masters are shown.

Walking down the ramp is the Nebuta Hall. On display are 4 full-sized floats that participated in the festival, at a close-up level enabling visitors to admire the details that could not be appreciated even at the parade. At specific intervals the staff would perform the festival music to visitors, and allow them to experience taiko drumming and Haneto dancing.

Further down the hall the Nebuta Faces created by currently active artists are on display to allow visitors to see the differences in the artists' styles and techniques. At specific times there are also activities where one can experience the papering of the Nebuta structure. If you are interested it would be best to check out the time in advance and arrange your visit accordingly. Before leaving we visited the souvenir shop and bought a couple of T-shirts with the Nebuta face printed (6,600 yen for two).

• Entrance fee (620 yen) x 2
• 金魚群 T-shirt - white (2,546 yen)
• 新 羅漢 T-shirt (4,054 yen)
• Parking fee (330 yen)