Hanawa's Tanabata Nemuri Nagashi, adorned with Osho lanterns and giant taiko drums
Hanawa Neputa
The 2026 edition of Hanawa Neputa has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/08/07 〜 2026/08/08Ended
- Season / frequency
- Every year on August 7 and the 8th / Every year
- Location
- Hanawa (riverbed of the Yoneshiro River)
- Area
- Akita Prefecture・Kazuno City(From Tokyo: approx. 3 h 40 min–4 h 10 min · bullet train)Prefecture-level estimate to a main station or airport, not the venue. Airport access, check-in and onward travel are extra; remote areas and islands can take much longer.
- Highlights and activities
- Participation fee
- No charge
- Last updated
- 2026/11/11
Hanawa Neputa, passed down in Hanawa, Kazuno City, is a event featuring a spectacular display of Osho lanterns, giant drums, and fireworks. During the Nemuri Nagashi on the 8th, a distinctive event is held in which lanterns are burned and sent down the river.
Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: Aoiwaaki File:Hanawa Neputa 04.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: Aoiwaaki File:Hanawa Neputa 01.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: Aoiwaaki File:Hanawa Neputa 06.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.About Hanawa Neputa
Hanawa Neputa is a Tanabata event held every year on August 7 and the 8th in Hanawa, Kazuno City, and has been passed down since around the end of the feudal domain era.
The shogi-piece-shaped Osho lanterns and giant taiko drums are at the heart of the festival, and on the 8th the Nemuri Nagashi ritual takes place at Inamura Bridge over the Yoneshiro River.
Lanterns are burned and sent down the river, accompanied by giant taiko drums and fireworks, making this a traditional event emblematic of summer in Hanawa.
Festival highlights
A highlight is the 10 Osho lanterns, shaped like shogi pieces.
The lanterns are over 5 meters tall, and there are also 10 giant taiko drums with drumheads measuring 2 meters across.
During the Nemuri Nagashi on the 8th, the lanterns line up at Inamura Bridge and are set alight and sent down the river, joined by giant taiko drums and fireworks in a spectacle of lanterns, sound, and light.
Hanawa's Tanabata Nemuri Nagashi, adorned with Osho lanterns and giant taiko drums
What to expect
During the festival, young people pull the neputa through the town, while giant taiko drums are played.
On the 8th, the Osho lanterns line up at Inamura Bridge over the Yoneshiro River and are all set alight at once for the Nemuri Nagashi ritual, in which they are burned and sent down the river.
According to the 2026 information, the procession on the 8th was scheduled to run from around 6:30 p.m. until around 1:30 a.m. the following day, and fireworks were planned along the Yoneshiro River from around 8:45 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.
How to take part
参加費：料金なし
Location and access
- Venue and address
Hanawa, Kazuno City (riverbed of the Yoneshiro River)
- Train and bus
Walk from JR Kazuno-Hanawa Station
- By car
From the Kazuno-Hachimantai Interchange on the Tohoku Expressway
- Parking
Free
Address Hanawa, Kazuno City, Akita Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 Event Information (the dates listed have passed)
The 2026 schedule was announced for August 7 and the 8th.
The fireworks on the 8th were scheduled for around 8:45 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.; the launch time could vary depending on how the procession was proceeding.
Accommodation and hotels PR
Showing nearby accommodation.
Prices and availability are current at the time of retrieval. For multi-night stays, only the first night’s price is shown. Confirm the final price and directions to the venue with the booking provider. Select your dates again when using the area search link. Search area: within 3 km of Central Akita Prefecture / Kazuno City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The 2026 information stated that the event would go ahead in rain and be canceled in strong winds; the fireworks launch time could vary depending on how the procession was proceeding.
The fireworks were scheduled along the Yoneshiro River.
Nearby attractions
大湯環状列石
秋田県鹿角市にある縄文時代の配石遺跡
写真：掬茶 / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
鹿角市先人顕彰館
秋田県の博物館・美術館のスポットです。
写真：掬茶 / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
鹿角市歴史民俗資料館
秋田県鹿角市にある博物館
写真：掬茶 / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·Origins and History of Hanawa Neputa
Hanawa Neputa is a Tanabata event passed down in Hanawa since around the end of the feudal domain era.
It is still introduced as an event held every year on August 7 and the 8th.
During the Nemuri Nagashi on the 8th, the distinctive ritual of burning Osho lanterns and sending them down the river is carried on alongside giant taiko drums and fireworks.
Official information
The Hanawa Neputa information on the Kazuno City official website provides the event schedule, venue location, access information, and the 2026 traffic restriction map and procession outline.
The page also includes a link to the official Hanawa Bayashi website.
Hanawa Neputa at a Glance
Hanawa Neputa is a Tanabata event passed down in Hanawa, Kazuno City, since around the end of the feudal domain era.
The festival features 10 shogi-piece-shaped Osho lanterns and 10 giant taiko drums with 2-meter drumheads.
On the 8th, the Nemuri Nagashi ritual is held at Inamura Bridge, where lanterns are burned and sent down the river. The spectacle of the giant taiko drums and fireworks joining in is a highlight.
Sources and references
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/11/11
