Aizu Painted Candle Festival

Aizu Painted Candle Festival

Aizu painted candles (e-rousoku) are one of Aizu’s most well-loved traditional crafts. The Aizu Painted Candle Festival was started in order to let people all over Japan (and all over the world) know about this traditional art form, and to give people an appreciation for the work that is needed to make every single candle.

Take in the picturesque snowy scenery in Aizu-Wakamatsu City by candlelight this winter - the Aizu Painted Candle Festival takes place at Tsurugajo Castle (main venue) and Oyakuen Garden (sub venue) on the second Friday and Saturday of February. The castle grounds are lit up with artisanal candles and lanterns, while the garden at Oyaku-en has colourful illuminations that reflect in the clear waters of the ponds. Visitors to the castle can enjoy food stalls, while the garden offers a rare opportunity to drink green tea from the teahouse overlooking the ponds, which typically is only open during the day.

The 2026 festival took place on Friday 13th and Saturday 14th February, 2026.

Venue Details

Venue Details
Websitehttp://www.aizu.com/erousoku/(Japanese)
Contact

Secretariat of the Aizu Candle Festival Executive Committee

Best Season
  • Winter
ParkingUsually about 300 yen to park at Tsurugajo Castle; parking at Oyaku-en (or the nearby Aizu Chamber of Commerce) is free of charge
Access Details
AccessTsurugajo Castle: 1-1 Otemachi, Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima 965-0873
View directions
Getting there

Tsurugajo Castle:

By Train: 30min walk from Nishi-Wakamatsu Station (Aizu Railway / Tadami Line)

By Car: 20mins from Aizu-Wakamatsu IC

By Bus: 20min bus from Aizu-Wakamatsu Station to Tsurugajo Kita-guchi (鶴ヶ城北口)

Fukushima Festival Guide

Nearby

The World Glassware Hall
Cultural Experiences

Chinkin Taiken (Sunken-Gold Design Experience)

The Tradition of Aizu lacquerware in Fukushima Prefecture has continued for 400 years. Try out creating a design on Aizu Lacquerware with a technique called Chinkin ("Sunken-gold") at Tsunoda Lacquer Art Studio. Sketch your design on tracing paper, and then mark it onto the lacqerware with a needle. Tsunoda san will help you fill the grooves created by your needle with gold and silver powder to create your design. Alternatively, try painting your own design on Aizu lacquerware at the studio. Either experience will create a great souvenir of your trip in Japan. These experiences take about an hour.
The World Glassware Hall
Cultural Experiences

Aizu Painted Candles Craft Experience

Aizu Erosoku (painted candles) are sumptuous items that were long-prized among samurai families. Delicate and vivid patterns such as chrysanthemums, plum blossoms, and peonies are painted onto candles made of natural Japan wax extracted from the fruits of lacquer trees. Each candle is still painstakingly painted one by one, and they serve as regal decorations in Shinto and Buddhist ceremonies and weddings. A candle painting experience is available at Ozawa Candle Shop (Reservation required).
The World Glassware Hall
Cultural Experiences

Mitsutaya

Mitsutaya is a speciality restaurant with roots dating back to the end of the Edo Period (around 1835). The restaurant is situated in a renovated miso storehouse. It is therefore fitting that the restaurant is famous for a local Aizu meal called 'miso dengaku'. Miso dengaku refers to skewered vegetables and meat which are topped with a miso paste before being cooked over an open flame. The skewers are cooked one by one. Skewer ingredients include konjac, deep-fried tofu, sticky, savory rice balls called 'shingoro mochi', and more. Each small dish is coated in miso for an unforgettable and savory flavor.  

Discover Aizu Area

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