Cultural Experiences
Green Tea Experience at Suirakuen Garden
Try matcha green tea in a traditional tea house in Suirakuen Garden, located inside Nanko Park. Suirakuen Garden is also a popular place to visit for its fall foliage.
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Fukushima Waraji Festival
Fukushima City’s local summer festival ‘Fukushima Waraji Matsuri’ started in 1970. It is said that, despite its short history, this festival has its roots in an Edo Period traditional event known as the ‘Akatsuki-mairi’ (or Mt. Shinobu Dawn Procession).
During the festival evenings, locals parade a huge straw sandal (known as a waraji) along Route 13. This procession is followed by many different groups, who perform dances around town. The first evening is filled with music from the Showa Era, while the songs of the second night are modern and very upbeat.
This waraji weighs around 2 tons, is 12 metres in length, and is thought to be one of the biggest in Japan. Every February, local people follow the tradition of dedicating the waraji to Haguro Shrine on Mt. Shinobu, which is thought to help keep legs healthy and strong.
The festival is held on the first weekend of August, with the 2025 festival likely to be held from Friday 1 to Sunday 3 August, 2025.
Venue Details
| Website | https://www.waraji.co.jp/en/ |
|---|---|
| Contact | Fukushima Waraji Festival Executive Committee (+81) 24-536-5511 |
| Best Season |
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| Related info | This festival takes place in the evenings (Usually from 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM) |
| Access | Route 13 in Central Fukushima City View directions |
|---|---|
| Getting there | By Train: 5 min walk from JR Fukushima Station |
Nearby
Outdoor Activities
JRA Fukushima Racecourse
The only Japan Racing Association racecourse in the Tohoku region. Enjoy the excitement of the seasonal races held during Spring, Summer and Winter, as well as the traditional Tanabata Prize in July. The racecourse also has other areas for enjoying yourself, including a children's play area and athletic facilities, making it a great place to come with the family.
Cultural Experiences
Handmade Japanese Washi Paper Craft Experience
Kami-Kawasaki Washi paper has a history of over 1,000 years. It was given the name "Kami-Kawasaki Washi" because of its origin in Nihonmatsu City's Kami-Kawasaki district. Since the name of districts changes with the years, during Japan's Heian Period, it was known as "Michinoku-gami "("paper made in Michinoku").Kami-Kawasaki Washi paper has been used regularly as shoji paper (paper for sliding doors). Many people are charmed by the warmth and simple beauty of Kami-Kawasaki Washi. Paper mulberry, a type of tree used for making the paper, is grown locally. The traditional production method, from producing the raw ingredients to making the paper, is continued in Nihonmatsu City even today.Sticking to traditional production methods ensures that the finished paper has a luxuriant warmth and refinement, and is strong and durable. At present, a variety of products, such as dyed paper, folkcraft paper, and paper crafts, are produced, all of which maintain the paper's original texture. Although the demand for shoji paper is declining, there is still demand for products such as wallpaper and lamp shades. In this way, Kami-Kawasaki Washi remains important to us everyday. At the Washi Traditional Crafts Gallery - located at Michi-no-Eki Adachi (Roadside Station) - visitors can make washi postcards, paper fans, and other items.
Outdoor Activities
Fukushima Sky Park
A rural landing field located 10 km Northwest of central Fukushima City. Starting with the Azuma Mountain range, the beautiful mountain vistas surrounding this massive location will leave you mesmerized. In addition to aircraft take-off and landing practice, it is possible to use the Fukushima Sky Park for various events. It is widely used for music events, automobile and motorcycle test drives, and a test venue for public organizations.
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Events & Festivals
Cosquín en Japón
Cosquín en Japón is an Argentinian and Latin American folk music festival held yearly in Kawamata town in central Fukushima Prefecture.People who love Latin American folk culture, including musicians, singers, and enthusiasts, come together to enjoy the music and dance performances at the festival. The event is open to both amateur and professional performers, and, over the years, the number of participating groups has increased from 13 in its first year to more than 100 in 2023.The festival, held since 1975, takes place at the Kawamata Town Central Community Center (川俣町中央公民館に会場) over two or three days. It is organized by Norte Japón (North Japan Latin American Music Federation).The festival name means ‘Cosquín in Japan’ in Spanish, and pays tribute to Argentina's most important National Folklore Festival, held each year in the town of Cosquín in the province of Córdoba.A variety of rhythms and artistic styles from Latin America are represented at the festival. Its main focus is Argentinian and Andean folk music, which is played with instruments such as the quena, charango, acoustic guitar, and bombo.You can attend the festival for free without needing to register beforehand.
Events & Festivals
Taimatsu Akashi (Torch Festival)
With a history stretching back over 400 years, the Taimatsu Akashi torch festival in Sukagawa City is one of the three major fire festivals in Japan. As the night grows darker and the bonfires flare brightly here and there around the venue, groups of local junior high and senior high school students march through the town carrying 30 8-meter-long wooden torches called Hon-taimatsu, which they created by themselves, followed by a group of young men carrying the huge wooden torch called the Dai-taimatsu (10 meters long and weighing about 3 tons), and a group of women carrying a smaller wooden torch called the Hime-taimatsu (6 meters long and weighing 1 ton). These torches are carried to the top of Mt. Gorozan.There is also a wooden frame depicting Sukagawa Castle and a group of samurai warriors. As the drummers from Oushu Sukagawa Taimatsu-Daiko Hozonkai powerfully beat their Taimatsu-Daiko drums, the torches and the wooden frame are lit with a sacred fire carried up by a group of runners from Nikaido Shrine. The whole mountain looks as if it is on fire. The combination of fire and the beating of the drums is reminiscent of the days in the Warring States period. Local students form chanting squads to cheer on their torch as it burns - this main section with the flaming torches takes around an hour.In recent years, this traditional event has become well known as a participatory festival, allowing neighborhood associations, local elementary school pupils, and tourists to join the parade to Mt. Gorozan, each carrying a thin torchwood called a Sho-taimatsu (10 cm in diameter).2024 ROUTE MAP IN ENGLISHThe schedule for the 2024 festival was as follows:11:00 Midorigaoka Park Grass SquareFood and drink corner 13:00-16:00 tetteSmall torch making cornerNote: After making your torch, you can join the small torch procession at 17.15. 13:00-16:00 Taimatsu Street Sukagawa Shinkin Bank Head Office (Parking Lot)Commemorative photo with warriors in armorFree Sengoku Nabe (pork soup) while stocks lastSale of agricultural productsShizuoka City Specialty Products CornerTaimatsu Akashi Historic Site and Battlefield Walk Meeting Point (15:15)Karate demonstration 13:30-14:10 In front of Yoshida Clinic on Taimatsu StreetTorch presentation 14:00 Torch Street Miyasakicho areaSukagawa First Junior High School torch parade start 17:30-17:45 Nikaido ShrineSacred fire offering ceremony (receiving the sacred fire to light the torch) 17:00 (scheduled) Myoken Children's ParkLocal organisations torch procession starts 17:15-18:00 Miharashibashi Parking Lot General torch procession startsPlease participate with small torches made at the small torch crafting corner.Small torches will also be available for purchase (500 yen each, limited to 100) 18:00-19:45 Mt. Goro Special StageTaiko drum performances 18:30 Mt. Goro main festival areaThe large torch and 20 main torches are lit in sequence.
Events & Festivals
Adatara Illumination
From late July to late September, a magical world of illumination is created at the Adatara Kogen Ski Area using 2 billion light bulbs. Numerous romantic locations amidst the light display are created through ingenious creativity, such as the "Tunnel of Light" surrounding the ropeway, and the "Blanket of Shining Flowers" found at the mountain summit.
Events & Festivals
Kohata Hata Matsuri (Kohata Flag Festival)
The annual Kohata Hata Matsuri (Kohata Flag Festival) is one of three main festivals in Japan centered on a dramatic procession of large flags, and has been held for over 960 years. The five hues of the brightly-colored flags rising up towards the sky makes for some fantastic views. Kohata Flag Festival, which has been designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan, is held annually on the first Sunday of December.Mt. Kohata, for which the Kohata suburb of Nihonmatsu is named, is home to the impressive Okitsushima Shrine. This is where the festival is completed once the attendees have brought the flags up the mountain to make an offering at the shrine complex. The festival route involves wandering through a series of back roads and woodland paths, making it a considerably longer journey than the usual steps that lead to the shrine.The festival typically begins with speeches from local dignitaries at 8am, with the flag procession departing the Kohata Community Center at 8.30am. Accounting for several breaks on the parade route, the flags arrive at Okitsushima Shrine shortly before 1pm in the afternoon, so it's worth bringing food and drink to recharge your energy during the journey. The footing in the woodland can be slippery in early December, so visitors might consider shoes with good grip.