[2024 event information] One of Tohoku's six major festivals! The biggest waraji in Japan! Fukushima Waraji Festival

The Fukushima Waraji Festival will be held for three days from August 2nd (Friday) to August 4th (Sunday) this year! It is one of the six major festivals in Tohoku, and has been loved for many years as a festival for citizens to relax.It is special to the locals!

In this article, we will introduce information about the Fukushima Waraji Festival in 2024.

Fukushima Waraji Festival 2024 schedule

As in previous years, this year's event will be held from the first Friday to Sunday in August.

The main festival will be held on the 2nd and 3rd, and the main venue will be on National Route 13 (Shinbu Street), but on the 3rd day, August 4th, the large waraji will be dedicated to Haguro Shrine on Mt. Shinbu, so the venue will only be held on the 3rd day. becomes Haguro Shrine on Mt. Shinobu.

August 2nd (Friday) 18:30-21:00 (scheduled)

• Venue: National Route 13 , Shino Street ( section from Ax-mae intersection to Fukushin Honten-mae intersection)
• Purification ceremony
• Waraji dance
• Owaraji Parade
• Creative waraji parade

August 3rd (Saturday) 18:30-20:00 (scheduled)

• Venue: National Route 13 , Shino Street ( section from Ax-mae intersection to Fukushin Honten-mae intersection)
• Waraji dance
• Owaraji Parade
• Creative waraji parade
• Fukushima waraji tug of war

August 4th (Sunday) 9:30~ (scheduled)

• Venue: Mt. Shinobu/Haguro Shrine
• Great Waraji Dedication
  We will dedicate a large waraji to Haguro Shrine on Mt. Shinobu.

Fukushima Waraji Festival＜Information＞

• Name: 55th Fukushima Waraji Festival
• Venue: Center of Fukushima City, National Route 13 (Shinbu Street)
• Official URL: https://www.waraji.co.jp/

Fully equipped with paid viewing seats from the 55th Fukushima Waraji Festival!

The 55th Fukushima Waraji Festival is introducing paid viewing seats as a new initiative.

I want to see it with plenty of time! If you are interested, please consider it. S seats are commonly known as ``Wara Kaburi seats,'' and are special seats where you can watch the giant slalom in front of your eyes.

Price/Number of seats

• [SS seats – AXC Building 2nd floor deck] 18,000 yen/1 table (4 people) *Includes Fukushima City special products (F-BOX)
• [S seat – National Route 13] 14,000 yen/1 table (4 people)
• [A seat – National Route 13] 3,000 yen/person
• [B seat – National Route 13] 2,000 yen/person
• [C seat – National Route 13] 1,000 yen/person
• [Wheelchair] Free (first come first served on the day)

How to buy

1. Purchase
   Fukushima Waraji Festival Online Tickets on the Internet (link to external site) (Service hours: 5 a.m. to 2 a.m. the next day)
2. Purchase using the in-store multi-copy machine
   FamilyMart (Service hours: 5:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m. the next day)
   Seven-Eleven (Service hours: 24 hours)
3. Purchase by telephone reservation
   CN Play Guide (Service hours: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.)
   Phone number: 0570-08-9999 (operator support)

• Doors open: 6:00 pm on the day of the tournament (all seats are free seats)

Inquiry about paid seats

• Fukushima Festival Management Committee (Commerce and Industry Promotion Division)
• Phone number: 024-525-3720 (Reception hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays)
• Official URL: https://www.waraji.co.jp/

Let's dance with the free participation slot of Waraji Odori!

Continuing from last year, the Fukushima Waraji Festival will have a ``free participation slot'' where anyone can participate in the dance.

Applications will be accepted until the maximum capacity of 100 people is reached.

Recruitment guidelines for free participation in Waraji Odori

• We are looking for small group participants such as individuals, families, and friends other than groups and companies.
• It's OK if you're not confident in your choreography. On the day of the event, official dancers from the executive committee (Maiza-gumi members) will be dancing together.
• The total capacity is 100 people (applications will close as soon as capacity is reached).
• The dance will start at 6:40pm on Saturday, August 3rd, and will last approximately 20 to 25 minutes over a 400m course.
• The reception location (meeting point) on the day will be in front of the Fukushima Shinkin Bank main branch , and reception hours will be from 17:50 to 18:15.
• A participation fee of 200 yen per person will be collected at the reception desk on the day of the event.
• Please come in ``dancing clothes'' from the reception stage. Additionally, there is no changing area or baggage storage area, so please do your own.
• Drinking alcohol while participating in the dance or participating in the dance while intoxicated is prohibited.

Clothes to wear when participating and “waranowa”

You are free to dress as you like on the day, but if possible, it is preferable to wear Japanese clothing or Japanese-style clothing. However, it is essential to dance with a ``wara no wa''.

It's easy to make, so try making it yourself by watching the video below.

A practice session for Waraji Odori is also held.

A practice session for the Waraji dance will also be held on July 22nd (Monday) from 18:30 to 19:30 at the special exhibition room on the 3rd floor of Colasse Fukushima

If you are unable to attend on the above dates, please watch Youtube and practice!

summary

The Fukushima Waraji Festival has undergone numerous renewals since around 2019, and it may not be an exaggeration to say that it is still an ever-evolving festival.

The Fukushima Waraji Festival continues to evolve and is listed as one of the six major festivals in Tohoku, so please come and join us.