Held every year on July 2, the Ouchi-juku Hange Matsuri (‘mid-summer festival’) is a charming festival with hundreds of years of tradition behind it. The festival takes place at the traditional Edo period post town of Ouchi-juku, about 40 minutes south of Aizu-Wakamatsu City. It features a vivid parade featuring men in black eboshi caps carrying around the mikoshi (portable shrine), as well as the famous red-faced Tengu, supernatural creatures seen as spiritual guardians.
Originally held to venerate the spirit of Prince Mochihito, an emperor’s son said to have taken refuge here after the Genpei War, the festival is now a broader community event that prays for household safety and strong harvests.
Blessings are invoked at 12:00pm at Takakura Shrine, with the parade starting from 12.30pm and winding its way slowly through the village until about 3pm. They take breaks at several points, so it’s even possible to duck into a nearby soba restaurant for lunch. (A great time to try negi-soba, the Ouchi-juku speciality of soba eaten with a long onion!)
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| Estimated Visit Time | 2h |
| Parking | 500 yen for regular cars; up to 3,000 yen for large buses |
| Entrance Fee | Free entry to the village |
| Access | Yamamoto, Ouchi, Shimogo Town, Minamiaizu District, Fukushima Pref. 969-5207 View directions |
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| Getting there | By Car: 75 min from Shirakawa I.C. exit off the Tohoku Expressway. (Or 50 min from central Aizu-Wakamatsu City) By Train: 15 min by taxi or bus from Yunokami Onsen Station Mapcode for Car GPS: 433 583 290*64 Useful LinksGetting to Ouchi-juku [Detailed Access Information] Ouchi-juku Gourmet Tour Model Itinerary Visiting the Ouchi-juku Snow Festival |
Local farmers and agricultural associations offer a variety of authentic agricultural experiences, and are all waiting to provide you an unforgettable experience with a range of activities tailored for families, friends, schools, and company outings. Visitors can join farmers for a one-day farm experience, while taking in the beautiful nature of the Aizu region.
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).
Be swept off your feet by the amazing scenery at the Oguninuma Wetlands. These wetlands are located in Urabandai area, and are just one part of the stunning Oze National Park. Lots of people hike here every year at the start of summer to enjoy views of the seasonal yellow flowers, called Nikko Kisuge.
Bookings for the akabeko painting can be made on the official reservation page.What is 'Akabeko'?The akabeko legend started at Enzoji Temple in Yanaizu Town, in the Aizu region. The construction of this temple began in the year 807, but due to a huge earthquake at the end of the seventeenth century, it had to be repaired in 1617. It was during the reconstruction of the temple that the akabeko became a folk legend.It is said that moving the wood and other supplies necessary for the reconstruction work was incredibly difficult because materials had to be transported from various villages upstream of the Tadami River. The materials were heavy and the journey to the temple was long. Cattle were used to transport materials, but many struggled to bear their loads.Then, out of nowhere, appeared a cow with a red coat. (It should be noted that, in the past, the word ‘red’ was used to describe the color ‘brown’, so it is likely that it was a brown cow.) The red cow supported the other cows and helped the priests who were constructing the temple until it was completed. Then, it suddenly vanished.'Akabeko' means 'red cow' in the local dialect.A number of statues of the cow were built inside the temple grounds so that the people of Yanaizu could express their gratitude to the akabeko.In the years following, there was a range of legends about the akabeko, with stories such as families who owned akabeko being rid of sickness upon stroking the cows. They continued to hold their status of bringers of good luck and strength. Families bought or made akabeko toys for their young children to play with.Akabeko Painting ExperiencesIn recent history, the Aizu tradition of painting akabeko began. It is said that this tradition started as something to do for children visiting Aizu-Wakamatsu City as part of school trips. This was when the story of the Akabeko evolved once more, into its newest papier-mâché form. The stripes on the face and back of the papier-mâché Akabeko are said to represent strength and perseverance.There are a number of workshops in Aizu-Wakamatsu City where you can paint your own Akabeko. Most workshops offer the standard red, white, and black paint. These talismans for good health make very cute and lightweight souvenirs to take home for family and friends – or keep for yourself! Those who prefer to buy a ready-painted Akabeko will be able to find it at most souvenir shops.BookingIf you would like to book an akabeko painting experience at the Tsurugajo Kaikan (a shopping complex located next to Tsurugajo Castle), please access this page.
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.
The Aizu Festival is the biggest event of the year for the historic Aizu region. The main feature of the festival is the Aizu Hanko Gyoretsu, a procession of Aizu Domain lords and samurai.Headed by flag-bearers holding the standards of the feudal lords of the Aizu Domain, the procession is attended by participants representing well-known feudal lords such as Lord Uesugi, Lord Hoshina, and Lord Matsudaira, and by groups of festival participants wearing garments and carrying tools associated with each of these lords.Each year, some 500 people parade through downtown Aizu-Wakamatsu in an event that magnificently recreates the world of samurai. Before the procession starts off, there is a kick-off ceremony at Tsurugajo Castle.Visitors can enjoy watching the sword dancing of the Byakkotai warriors and sword fight performances given by professional actors, with the castle keep of Tsurugajo in the background.Overseas visitors or Japan residents can also join the parade in samurai armour; for more details about joining the 2026 parade next year, please send us an email.2025 Festival Schedule:Full details of the 2025 schedule here (in English).Full details of the 2025 schedule here (in Japanese).19 September 2025 (Friday)18:00 - 18:30 Lantern parade: Local schoolchildren will walk from Tsurugajo Castle to Shinmei Street carrying lanterns.19:00 - 20:30 Aizu-Bandaisan Mountain Dance: Held around a tower set up on Shinmei Street. Anyone is free to join in.Main day: 20 September 2025 (Saturday)09:55 Lord's Procession: The procession leaves from Tsurugajo Castle and carries on through the city, ending at roughly 1pm or 2pm. More events are held at the castle and around the city; please check the above English pamphlet for more details.19:00 - 20:30 Aizu-Bandaisan Mountain Dance: Held around the tower on Shinmei Street. Anyone is free to join in.21 September 2025 (Sunday)10:00 Nisshinkan Children's Parade: Children march through the streets dressed as members of the legendary Byakkotai (White Tiger Corps) or Swords Corps.10:10 Drum and Flute Corps Parade: Students from around 20 elementary schools in the city perform with traditional drum and flute.
The Higashiyama Onsen Bon Odori, a traditional summer dance festival, restarted in 2024 after a five-year absence and is typically held Friday to Monday on the first weekend of August.The festival involves long snaking lines of people dancing to the traditional song 'Aizu Bandaisan', which anyone can join since the dance only involves a few steps. The song is played from a 14-metre-high wooden watchtower built once a year in the Yukawa River below, adorned with over 1,000 lanterns.The history of the festival traces back to 1944, when it was designed to cheer up children evacuating to a ryokan in Higashiyama Onsen during the war.The onsen town is also worth a visit the rest of the year and makes an excellent base for exploring the samurai city of Aizu-Wakamatsu.
The Candle Festival at Higashiyama Onsen runs for three months from mid-December through to the end of February. The candles in this charming onsen town are illuminated for 90 minutes every evening, making for a pleasant atmosphere on an evening stroll.The festival begins on 21 December and continues until 28 February in winter 2024/25. Candles are lit 16:30-18:00 in December and January, 17:00-18:30 in February.Given its dates, the Candle Festival combines well with visiting other winter festivals, regardless of whether you’re staying in Higashiyama Onsen.