Tachineputa Museum — Attraction in Goshogawara

I am all about bright, colorful huge lantern festivals so I recently took the opportunity to visit Tachineputa. It is an absolutely great museum! They've done an amazing job at displaying some of the big, beautiful lanterns, explaining the creation process and also the significance of the various neputa/nebuta festivals in the region. I think I was here for 3 hours and I learned so much. There is not an English audio guide yet, but Google Translate works great. And I really appreciate how the exhibit starts on the 4th floor and continues as you spiral your way down the ramp to the bottom, giving you really great lantern views the entire time. Well worth the trip to Goshogawara! (And, honestly, I really preferred this museum to Wa Rasse for its depth (though, they're both very nice). Easily accessible by train from Aomori or Hirosaki and then a nice walk to the...

If you cannot be in Goshogawara for the Tachineputa festival held from August 4th-8th every year, I heartily recommend you check out the museum. Let me add that if you have seen the festival, the museum is still a great experience from a historical perspective. Nicely organized displays make for a pleasant experience and the floats are simply jaw-dropping. Seeing them from the 3rd or 4th floor let's you get a perspective you are unable to during the parade. Well worth the price of admission and the gift shop/area a has an EXCELLENT selection of culinary and apparel goods (and souvenirs)...

Very impressive TachiNeputa museum.

There’s an art gallery on second floor within the building but at a different section. Tickets can be purchased at the main counter, for cheaper price (TachiNeputa and Art Gallery combo).

Third floor is a spacious zone with people working on the following year’s Neputa.

Forth and fifth floor are learning/ activity zones or some sort, where you can pay to make your own gold fish lantern(?).

Sixth floor is an observation deck...