Demons, spirits and mythical warriors on spectacular floats crowd the streets of Aomori every year in August, as Nebuta Matsuri, Japan's answer to the carnival in Rio takes off and more than three million visitors flock to the city to take part in the wild celebrations and dance in the streets.

The festival is both a celebration of the short Japanese summer and a preparation for the harvest. Nebuta means drowsiness, and it is believed that the purpose of the festival was to wake up sleepy souls for the fall harvest. Whether this is true or not, you certainly won't be drowsy while the festival is going on. More than 200,000 dancers gyrate wildly to the beat of drums and the cheering of the crowds.

This year’s festivities take place from Aug 1-7. So don a costume and join the action.