One of Japan's biggest summer festivals kicked off in the northeast city of Aomori on Wednesday. The annual event is being held without coronavirus restrictions for the first time in four years.

The Aomori Nebuta Festival features a procession of huge floats called 'nebuta' that depict historic warriors.

The parade began at around 7 p.m., starting with a massive float standing about five meters tall.

Dancers called 'haneto' jumped and shouted to the sounds of flutes and drums around the floats. Last year, the number of dancers was restricted to those who had pre-registered, as an anti-coronavirus measure.

One resident in her 40s said she comes to the festival every year, and seeing all the dancers this year makes a huge difference. She said it feels the summer has returned to Aomori and it made her feel like dancing.

A woman in her 60s who came from Tokyo to perform said she had fun dancing for the first time in four years. She said the dancers, musicians and floats make Aomori's summer complete.

The festival runs through Monday. A fireworks finale will light up the final evening, when floats will also be displayed on the ocean.