This festival - recognised as a Significant Intangible Folk Cultural Asset - has a history of over 800 years and is held over three days (22-24 July) every year. The highlight of the festival is watching a procession of women dressed in beautiful traditional Japanese wedding apparel, making their way to the shrine at the heart of the town. This takes place on the morning of 23 July.
In the afternoons and evenings, floats are marched through the streets bearing local schoolchildren performing traditional kabuki theatre.
| Website | https://www.kanko-aizu.com/about/(English) |
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| Related info | There is ample parking at the community centre just east of the Kumano Shrine where the bridal parade finishes. |
| Access | The festival is a short walk from Aizu-Tajima Station View directions |
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| Getting there | By Car:
By Train:
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When visiting Tsurugajo Castle, remember to check out the Rinkaku Tea Ceremony Room, which is situated inside the castle grounds. The beautiful Japanese garden surrounding the tea room is well worth a visit. What's more, you can enjoy traditional Japanese matcha tea together with a seasonal treat, all while looking out at the fantastic foliage of the garden.
Experience canoeing at Lake Hibara, one of Urabandai’s largest lakes! Outdoor Sports Club Bacss offers a range of fun tours and activities centred around Lake Hibara that you can join with family and friends, including trekking, canoeing and fishing.
A wakeboard shop located on the northwest shore of Lake Inawashiro in Fukushima Prefecture. It offers easy access from the Kanto region, bypassing major traffic congestion. Individuals and beginners are welcome. A specialized beginner's course is available, allowing even first-timers to enjoy their time on the water, and all necessary equipment can be rented. Bookings can be made even for 1 person. Why not spend a day enjoying the beautiful, clear waters of Lake Inawashiro, one of the most breathtaking lakes in Japan?
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.
Mishima no Sainokami, which takes place annually on January 15, is held in order to bring prosperity to local people, and to give locals the opportunity to pray for a good harvest and the safety of their family. This festival has been designated as a nationally-recognised Important Cultural Property.
Lake Numazawa Festival is held on the first Saturday and Sunday of August every year at Lake Numazawa in Kaneyama Town. It is said that over 800 years ago, a man killed a giant snake (dragon) that lived at the bottom of Lake Numazawa in order to protect Kaneyama Town. Over the course of the 2 days, local people act out this folktale at the lakeside. Come and visit to enjoy some local shows, watch firework displays on the Saturday night, and swim in the lake!As a rough framework, fireworks typically launch around 8pm on the Saturday night, coinciding with the arrival of the great snake, and the samurai warriors arrive to perform around 12pm (noon) on the Sunday.Visitors arriving by car should park according to instructions from staff in the large auxiliary car park - this is close enough to the lake to be a short walk, but shuttle buses also run regularly between the two locations, the journey taking about 2-3mins.
Hinoemata Kabuki (a form of traditional Japanese theatre) has been used as a ceremonial practice in Hinoemata Village since the Edo Period. Hinoemata Kabuki, performed at an outdoor theatre, is an extremely important tradition for the village, and is passed down from generation to generation.For more information, read our related blog.
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.