Aizu-Tajima Gion Festival

Aizu-Tajima Gion Festival

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.

Venue Details

Venue Details
Websitehttps://www.kanko-aizu.com/about/(English)
Best Season
  • Summer
Related infoThere is ample parking at the community centre just east of the Kumano Shrine where the bridal parade finishes.
Access Details
AccessThe festival is a short walk from Aizu-Tajima Station
View directions
Getting there

By Car:

  • 1 hour drive from Aizu-Wakamatsu City.
  • 2 hour drive from Fukushima City and Koriyama City.

By Train:

  • From Asakusa Station, take the Revaty Train to Aizu-Tajima Station (Takes around 3 hours 15 minutes)
  • From Aizu-Wakamatsu, take the Aizu Railway Line from Aizu-Wakamatsu Station to Aizu-Tajima Station (Takes around 1 hour 15 minutes).

Fukushima Festival Guide

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