Goshogawara 花配達花屋

Goshogawara is a city of festival, floats, flowers and fun. It’s well known for the summer festivals where people parade their enormous and creative floats, Japanese in style and quite extraordinary. This Tachineputa float ceremony is different to others in that the floats are standing Neputa, and are up to 23 meters tall. That is the equivalent of a five story building!

A standing float is not a stationary float. Although the floats are built to be standing, and exceptionally tall, it is the way they move that is extraordinary. Each float weighs around 19 tons, which is heavy, and the people who move the float pull them with ropes, navigating them through the narrow streets of Goshogawara, Masterfully.

Goshogawara is inclusive and love the city, and visitors, to get involved with the building of the floats. They have a huge hall, Tachineputa Hall, where you can go and take part, give some creative input, paint and stick and color and make all things wonderful and floaty. If getting down and dirty is not your thing, you can also just enjoy the scene from the lounge on the sixth floor of the hall.

Goshogawara is situated on the western side of the Aomori Prefecture, and it’s fairly easy to arrive from Hirosaki City or Aomori City, by train or private vehicle. When you arrive, you will be blown away by the Tachineputa, the intricate, incredible floats, 3D designs, Japanese characters, samurai, and bests.

The festival is a summer festival, usually in the first week of August for about four days. Visitors come from far and wide to enjoy the spectacle. Book your hotel early and you will find a good range of hotels and guesthouses in Goshogawara. Bring the family, meet your friends, enjoy the music, dance and food, and party day and night!