The charm of the Hirosaki Neputa is transmitted by Furusato tax payment! If you donate to the "Hirosaki 4 Major Festivals Support Course We will send you a picture of the Neputa actually in operation.

This page is auto-translated. Pleasenote that content may contain errors or differ from the original.

Hirosaki City in Aomori Prefecture has four festivals held each season, and to promote the appeal of one of them, the Hirosaki Neputa Festival, those who donate to the "Hirosaki Four Major Festivals Support Course" of the Hirosaki City Hometown Tax Payment from December 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025 and wish to receive a Hirosaki Neputa Festival" will be sent to those who donate to the "Hirosaki 4 Major Festivals Support Course" by December 31, 2025.

Hirosaki Neputa Festival (in 2025)

What is the Hirosaki Neputa Festival?

The Hirosaki Neputa Festival is a summer festival in which magnificent and heroic neputas based on warrior pictures from the Sangokushi and Suikoden periods parade through the castle town of Hirosaki.

There are various theories as to its origin, but it is said to have originated from a farmer's event called "Nemuri Nagashi" to wash away the sleepiness and laziness that hindered busy summer farm work, and the word "Neputa" may have been derived from "Nemuri Nagashi," "Nemuta Nagashi," and "Neputa," and in 1980 it was designated an important intangible folk cultural asset by the Japanese government. In 1980, it was designated as a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Asset.

■ Eligible persons

Those who donate to the "Hirosaki 4 Major Festivals Support Course" between Monday, December 1 and Wednesday, December 31, 2025.

*The number of applications is limited, and a lottery will be held if there are too many applications.

How to apply

(1)Make a donation between December 1 (Mon.) and December 31 (Wed.), 2025, by selecting the "Hirosaki 4 Major Festivals Support Course".

(2)After the donation is completed, Hirosaki City will send an e-mail containing a response form to donors who selected the "Hirosaki 4 Major Festivals Support Course.

(3)Fill out the response form, select the desired Neputa picture, and send your response.

(4)Around March 2026, we will send the desired Neputa painting to the donor.

About the types of neputa paintings

Please check the Hirosaki City website for information on the types of neputa paintings.

https://www.city.hirosaki.aomori.jp/jouhou/seido/furusato-neputa.html

Other Notes

Winners will be announced upon delivery of the neputa painting.

If there are too many applications, the winners will be decided by lottery. Please understand that we may not be able to meet your wishes.

If we receive too many applications, we may send you a picture other than the one you requested.

The picture is a cutout of a float that was actually operated at the festival. The colors may fade due to rain, and some may be torn during operation.

Please note that colors may fade if the floats get wet or are rubbed strongly.

The neputa paintings are provided by courtesy of each organization, and the neputa painters put their heart and soul into each painting. Please take good care of them.

Peony *Tsugaru Senbikai (approx.) 53 cm (H) x 80 cm (W)

Picture in a frame *Hirosaki City Hall Neputa Executive Committee (approx.) 39 cm (H) x 93 cm (W)

Offering picture *Momorishinmachi Neputa Club (approx.): 129 cm (H) x 85 cm (W)

Sleeve picture *Shinjimachi Neputa Club (approx.) 398 cm (H) x 194 cm (W) *Size is for one piece.

Mirror picture *Hirosaki City Hall Neputa Executive Committee (approx.) 480 cm (H) x 656 cm (W)

■For more information about Hirosaki City Furusato, Aomori Prefecture, please visit the Hirosaki City website.

https://www.city.hirosaki.aomori.jp/jouhou/seido/hirosakiouenn-hurusato.html