Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse is the best single stop in Aomori. Inside the red slatted building beside the station are full-size illuminated festival floats: warriors, demons, gods, and kabuki scenes built from painted paper and light.
The museum explains how the floats are made and why the August Nebuta Festival dominates the city's calendar. If you cannot be here from 2 to 7 August, this is the next best thing; if you can, visit before the parade so the craft and symbolism are easier to read in the street.