Festival of the light in Tokyo

Hagoromo Nebuta in Tokyo

(Tachikawa city, Tokyo)

【Matsuri (祭り)】means festival in English. The word derived from “enshrine gods”, “Matsuru” in Japanese. As the original word implies, “Matsuri” is related to religious rituals although the religious meanings has been diluted by time.

Nebuta festival featuring huge lantern floats is one of the most famous and historical summer festival in Aomori Prefecture, the northernmost part of the main island of Japan. At night the vivid-colored lantern floats depicting historical figures are lighted up from inside and shining beautifully on streets. 

It is worth traveling to Aomori just to see this summer festival. However, if you do not have time to go Aomori, there is an alternative in Tokyo. Hagoromo-Cho (羽衣町 ) in Tachikawa City has hosted this northland’s festival since 1999. Colorful floats used at Kuroishi Nepura (黒石ねぷた) in Aomori are brought to this small town and highlight the summer night sky.

The festival is held on a local shopping street of the town. Food stalls are set up on the both sides of the street. They cook festival food wafting delicious smells which attract people on the street. Families grab those fast food, “Takoyaki”, “Yakitori”, “snow corn" etc and eat them strolling around the festival venue.

As sky getting dark, floats illuminated from inside are paraded through the street, people are sitting on the side of the road and watching the floats accompanied by lively Japanese drum performance of local kids. Rhythmical sound of beating drum is echo throughout in the hot summer night.

The energetic festival feeling the evening summer breeze would become a pleasant memory of summer night.