We made a stop in Aomori by way of a cruise in the summer of 2019. We experienced the city at night for their annual festival known as Aomori Nebuta Matsuri. They held a stunning parade of illuminated papier-mâché floats depicting Japanese mythology held and carried through solely via manual power. In addition, there were energetic dancers holding tall, lantern masts and wave after wave of drum performances along crowd-filled streets.