Tachineputa Matsuri — 23-Meter Tall Float Festival

Goshogawara Tachineputa Matsuri (立佞武多, held August 4-8) is Aomori's second great summer festival, featuring the world's tallest illuminated floats — 23 meters tall (equivalent to a 7-story building) and weighing up to 19 tons. Unlike Aomori's wide Nebuta floats, Tachineputa are vertical, depicting warriors, gods, and mythical scenes stacked in elaborate multi-tier compositions. The floats tower over spectators as they're pulled through narrow streets, scraping utility wires and requiring special street clearances.

The festival was revived in 1998 after a 80-year hiatus (it had died out in the 1920s due to cost and logistics). Three massive floats participate in the nightly parades, accompanied by taiko drummers, flute players, and thousands of dancers. The sight of a seven-story illuminated warrior floating down the street, surrounded by chanting crowds and drumbeats, is surreal and unforgettable.

The Tachineputa Museum (立佞武多の館) displays floats year-round in a purpose-built 5-story atrium, allowing visitors to see the towering constructions up-close and learn the revival history. The museum includes workshops where artisans construct next year's floats — a rare behind-the-scenes look at festival preparation.