Aomori is known for it’s colorful Aomori Nebuta Festival, a renowned Japanese fire festival held annually, attracting over 3 million visitors. It features massive, illuminated paper-mâché floats (nebuta) depicting legendary warriors, accompanied by haneto dancers, taiko drums, and flutes, making it one of Japan’s largest, most vibrant summer events.

Our plan today was to visit the Nebuta Festival Museum, on a Princess tour which also included a visit to the Seiryu-ji Temple. After a 30-minute drive into the mountain, we came to the Seiryu-ji Temple compound, which also includes the Gojū-no-tō Pagoda and Showa Daibutsu Buddha. At roughly 69 feet in height, “Big Buddha” is the tallest seated bronze figure of Buddha in Japan.

Showa Daibutsu is seated at the top of a long approach through the woods. We saw piles of snow around, which surprised us on this beautiful sunny morning. You can actually walk inside of the buddha’s base, which showcases Japanese art and photographs. The temple was a little less impressive than ones we’ve seen earlier in the trip. You can also enjoy matcha tea and some musicians playing.

Back in Aomori, we visited the massive Nebuta museum. The building’s architecture style is industrial and you could mistake it for an old warehouse, perhaps by design. Inside, there were displays of all of the previous years’ floats, and the “best in Parade” for all of the years of the festival. Eventually you enter a multi-story space where 6 or 7 floats are displayed. You see them from above initially, then at floor level. There were drummers and other musicians giving a demonstration. The floats are remarkable in their design; built with a simple wooden frame, covered in wire, and then Japanese paper applied over it. When the form is finished, it is painted vibrant colors and backlit. The characters are all famous warriors and we found their expressions to be quite intimidating.

Next to the museum is a large shopping spot, A-Factory, highlighting local apple goods. If it can be made of apple, you will find it here. Aomori has a large apple industry, as well as other agricultural products and fishing. Its population is 265K. We noticed as we drove around the city that their railings are in the shape of an apple.

On the drive back to the ship, our guide told us he used to be an engineer and that he designed the Aomori cruise terminal 15 years ago. He joked about having his name live on through his work. He is 76 years old and continues to work as a tour guide, just 2 or 3 days a week, to “get his steps in”. The cruise terminal had a few small stalls selling souvenirs and handmade goods.

Tomorrow: Hakodate, Japan