Fireworks with Nebuta Festival Floats

Japan is famous for its matsuri, or festivals. And the Aomori Nebuta is the most popular, drawing one million visitors annually. During first week of August, over 20 spectacular illuminated floats called nebutas are paraded through the city streets. The floats take an entire year to build and each is made of washi paper that's intricately painted with depictions of gods, mythical creatures or historical figures, and adorned with illuminated paper lanterns. For the first few days of the festival, the floats are pushed along the streets accompanied by dancers and drummers. Only on the last day are they placed onto boats and paraded around the bay in the evening. A reserved seat enables you to see all the action as these extravagant works of art, measuring as high as eight meters (29 feet) and as wide as 14 meters (49 feet) float past you as pyrotechnics work their magic.