Aomori in Japan

I would like to introduce about my hometown “Aomori” which is located on the top of the main island of Japan.  I’m from west part of Aomori.  There are lots of  green, clean air, and beautiful view. Also, many tourists come to visit enjoy them every year.  I will write about some famous tourist spots.

Nebuta

At first, My most favorite thing in Aomori is Nebuta Festival.  This is one of the three biggest festival in Northeast Japan. It’s held in all over the Aomori and over 3 million tourists come to see this event every summer. It's held around 8/3~8/8. There are many big human shaped floats parade through the streets.  People enjoy the festival music, people dancing(actually they are jumping), and the enthusiasm. We call people who join dancing “Haneto”.  This means jumping people.  

Haneto

When I participate to “Haneto”, It was really fun and I felt this moment would not finish forever.  I didn’t feel tired during I was jumping, but after finish festival my feet were really sore! It was heavy muscular pain. Next day, I also didn’t feel my feet sore during participating because of Adrenalin, but after finishing that, my feet were sore again.  That was funny thing I experienced.

Originally,  aomori citizens began this festival in 300 years ago.  Many of them were farmer, and they tried to sweep out their sleepiness through this kind of really small events.  Since then, that event had changed its form, and now Nebuta is famous big festival in Japan.
There are some performance teams during festival, they are separated dancing group and music group. They practice really hard before summer and finally they perform in front of huge audience. Do you want to join them? Of course you can!  In the biggest Nebuta festival, you have to wear standard uniform which is like straw hat and casual kimono. you can get them at shopping mall.  It’s free to join their dancing, but  you have to join a team and practice with them if you want to play music with them.
Also, there are standing Nebuta in Goshogawara city! The floats standing and look down at us.  Their height is around 72 feet and the weight is about 17 tons.  You might get your neck hurt if you look up at Nebuta face from its feet.  
I believe that you can release your stress and enjoy it from your heart. Please join it!

Standing Nebuta                                                                                                


Blue Pond: Second, this is also my favorite fantastic view.  Can you imagine a pond which has blue color? and Do you think is it exist in real world? Yes it is. It’s in a mountain in Aomori. The name is Aoike(blue pond), and it creates fantasy scene. The reason why it is blue has still not been elucidated.  You can also enjoy autumn leaves in autumn.  I hope you will refresh and feel mystic atmosphere.

Blue Pond

Sea:
Aomori is surrounded by ocean on three sides. I can go to a fishing port and beach by a car. it takes 10 minutes from my house. Very small beach. I sometimes go there during summer and enjoy the view. Time passes slowly there.  However, there is also a big event in summer! many people come gather from all over Japan(some people come from overseas), and hold swimming competition. The name of the competition is CHESEBOROUGH CUP.  People not only compete their swimming time, but actually they contribute for my hometown and its sister city. Our sister city is Bath city, maine state in the U.S. these two cities has been trying to swim long way as same distance as between two cities. It’s 10,200km.   This kind of event is also held in Bath city.  These events will last until we swim 10,200km.  

Cheseboroh Cup

There are many spots to see.  I know big city is exciting, but I really recommend you to enjoy countryside in Aomori.