Posted September 12, 2019 by Jonelle Patrick1 Comment Awesome Stuff To Do

Giant Paper Lanterns On Wheels

Usually you’d have to hie yourself all the way up to rural Aomori* to catch a glimpse of these epic glowing floats, but lucky for me, last fall I happened across an outpost of the Nebuta Festival right in my own backyard! For some mysterious reason, six of the outrageously great floats were swanning down the shopping street near Nakanobu Station (yeah, I’d never gotten off there before either!) in mid-September, and they did not disappoint.

Warriors no less fierce because they're made out of paper — Warriors no less fierce because they’re made out of paper

nebuta3 — His banner reads “Nakanobu Nebuta Festival” – proof that these aren’t just borrowed finery

You can get an idea of big these things are YIKES the signs on either side were in danger

The grandaddy of all Nebuta festivals takes place on its home turf in Aomori at the beginning of August, but this mini version happens every two years in Tokyo, on the Nakanobu shopping street near Nakanobu Station. The next one will happen in September 2020, so plan ahead!

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The Last Tea Bowl Thief was chosen as an Editor’s Pick for Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense on Amazon

For three hundred years, a missing tea bowl passes from one fortune-seeker to the next, altering the lives of all who possess it…*read more*

“A fascinating mix of history and mystery.” —Booklist

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Jonelle Patrick writes novels set in Japan, and blogs at Only In Japan and The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had

Jonelle Patrick View All

Writing mystery books set in Tokyo is mostly what I do, but I also blog about the odd stuff I see every day in Japan. I'm a graduate of Stanford University and the Sendagaya Japanese Institute in Tokyo, and a member of the International Thriller Writers, the Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters In Crime. When I'm not in Tokyo, I live in San Francisco. I also host a travel site called The Tokyo Guide I Wish I'd Had, so if you're headed to Japan and want to check out the places I take my friends when they're in town, take a look!