Ouchi-juku’s rows of thatched-roof houses (which date back to the Edo Period) are transformed into a winter wonderland during Ouchi-juku Snow Festival, which takes place every February. Bright white snow falls and slowly builds up, as candles burn bright in snow lanterns, bathing the old post town in warm light. Various events are held during the two-day festival, the highlight being the flaming torch parade and fireworks on the first evening.
The 2026 festival will be held Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th February, 2026.
The schedule for last year can be found on the Ouchi-juku Tourism Association website in Japanese, or as below in English. Although this is last year's schedule, the 2026 schedule is identical -- only the dates are different.
Getting to Ouchi-juku BY LOCAL TRAIN & BUS 2025:
Full-size PDFs of the bus schedule
| Website | https://ouchi-juku.com/detail/622/index.html |
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| Contact | Ouchi-juku Tourism Association (+81) 241-68-3611 |
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| 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 from Yunokami Onsen Station |
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.
You can now try on yukata or kimono at Tsuruga Kimono Rental Shop, which opened in April 2019. Tsuruga Kimono Rental Shop is located on the second floor of Tsurugajo Kaikan, which is right next to Tsurugajo Castle in Aizu-Wakamatsu City. Rent a kimono or yukata and take photos with friends and family in front of the castle, or venture a bit further to the historical Nanokamachi-dori Street to feel like you have stepped back in time. Come and make some great memories in Aizu-Wakamatsu City!
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.
You can try out the Mugenkyo no Watashi River Crossing on the Tadami River for a unique Japanese experience! Sit back, and enjoy the beautiful views as you make your way from one side of the Tadami River to the other. The boat trips are around 15 minutes per way, and run between Hayato Onsen pier and the Mifuke area.Booking & More Information
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.
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!)
Urabandai Night Fantasy Snow Festival is held in the mid-February every year at the very scenic Renge Pond. Come to Urabandai next February to enjoy firework displays and picturesque sights of this beautiful area lit up with candles.
The festival was held on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th February, 2026.Snow sculptures big and small take center stage at this exciting, local snow festival. Try out local cuisine and browse traditional locally-made crafts at the Tadami Furusato Snow Festival. As night closes in, the snow sculptures are dramatically lit up. They look even more fantastic when surrounded with the light of the fireworks display that is held on Saturday and Sunday evening.On the Saturday evening, there is a cleansing ritual held for people in their 'unlucky' years, such as 25 and 42 for men, or 19, 33 or 37 for women. Men in loincloths run around being slapped on the back for good luck by visitors, before lighting great bonfires that guests use to roast mochi. With stage shows, snow sculptures, projection mapping and fireworks, this is a great event for families in the heart of a beautiful region of rural Japan.