This site is an online media that delivers all sorts of trivia about the six Tohoku prefectures, from sightseeing and gourmet spots to local customs, history, and more
In Fukushima Prefecture, we recommend the winter festival in the snowy Aizu region
Among them, we will introduce three snow festivals where you can spend snowy nights enveloped in a beautiful yet solemn atmosphere, with the soft light of candles fantastically illuminating the piled up snow
The Snow Festival offers a variety of experiences and events during the day, with food and drink stalls offering cheap gourmet food and local cuisine, and fireworks and other displays, making it a truly festival-like experience
Aizu E-Candle Festival (Aizuwakamatsu City)
Picture candles and Tsuruga Castle Source: Exquisite Scenery, Exquisite Aizu Tourism Material Library
Aizu -e candles are one of Aizu's traditional crafts, handmade by artisans. They feature vibrantly colored designs of flowers such as chrysanthemums, peonies, and wisteria, and have a history of about 500 years.
Handmade lanterns Source: Exquisite Scenery, Exquisite Aizu Tourism Material Library
The first festival was held in 2000, and the citizens of Aizuwakamatsu made handmade lanterns to hold picture candles, helping to make the festival a success
Snow Firefly chosen through a public contest , is said to be a comparison of candlelight to fireflies.
In 2025, the event will be held over two days, February 7th (Friday) and 8th (Saturday)
Each venue in the city lights up with elaborately designed picture candles
Bamboo tubes in Oyakuen Garden Source: Fukushima Tourism Information Site "Fukushima Travel" Tourism Photo Library
The two main venues are the "still" Oyakuen Garden and the "active" Tsuruga Castle. At Oyakuen Garden, a fantastical view unfolds, including a pond shaped like the character for "heart" surrounded by bamboo tubes lit with illustrated candles
Illuminated Tsuruga Castle Source: Fukushima Tourism Information Site "Fukushima Travel" Tourism Photo Library
At Tsuruga Castle, painted candles are lit in Aizu Hongo-yaki tile lanterns and Aizu lacquer candlesticks, as well as in lanterns handmade by local residents, creating a stunning contrast with the illuminated castle tower
For a fee, you can climb up to the castle tower and look out over the venue below
You can also enjoy the unique illuminated candles at Aizuwakamatsu Station, Kitademaru Street (near the site of Saigo Tanomo's residence), Nanokamachi Street, Noguchi Hideyo Youth Street, Omachi Street, and Ancient Dream Street
Aizu Painted Candle Festival <Information>
Name: Aizu E-Candle Festival
Event period: February 7th (Fri) to 8th (Sat), 2025 (Reiwa 7)
Ouchijuku Snow Festival (Shimogo Town, Minamiaizu District)
Ouchijuku buried in snow Source: Fukushima Tourism Information Site "Fukushima Travel" Tourism Photo Library
Ouchi-juku, an old post town that has been preserved intact and designated as one of the country's Important Groups of Traditional Buildings, is a place where in winter the thatched-roof houses lining the old road are buried in deep snow
Snow lanterns in Ouchi-juku Source: Fukushima Tourism Information Site "Fukushima Travel" Tourism Photo Library
During the Snow Festival, many handmade snow lanterns are lined up along this road, and at night they are lit with candles, softly illuminating the post town.
Additionally, snow huts are built in front of the shops in the post town, giving you a taste of the snowy country
Fireworks over Ouchijuku Source: Fukushima Tourism Information Site "Fukushima Travel" Tourism Photo Library
Furthermore, large fireworks are launched into the silence of the snowy night, illuminating the snow-covered townscape of the post town with a loud bang that reverberates through the mountains
The 39th Ouchijuku Snow Festival will be held over two days, on February 8th (Sat) and 9th (Sun) in 2025 (Reiwa 7), and the illuminations will begin on the 7th (Fri)
Japan's best dumpling skewer
"Dangosashi" is a decoration made by stabbing colorful rice dumplings and ornaments made from glutinous rice flour onto dogwood branches, and is an offering made during the Little New Year in the Aizu region to pray for a good harvest and good health
In Ouchijuku, after the opening ceremony of the Snow Festival, all the residents join together to decorate a large dogwood tree with dumplings, in an event called "Japan's No. 1 Dango Stick."
They are made from broken down glutinous rice that cannot be sold, and are displayed as offerings before being baked or deep-fried, sprinkled with sugar, and eaten as a snack that children love
There are lots of events during the day
other events include gushimochihiroi," where participants pick up mandarin oranges that have been thrown instead of rice cakes
A shop in a traditional house with the atmosphere of a post town. Source: Fukushima Tourism Information Site "Fukushima Travel" Tourism Photo Library
Additionally, many of the houses in post towns double as residences and shops, where you can enjoy local dishes such as "atsuage dengaku," "junen miso (perilla miso)," and "buckwheat flour tempura buns."
Urabandai Snow Festival Night Fantasy (Kitashiobara Village, Yama District)
Candles neatly arranged on the ice of the swamp. Source: Lake and Marsh Country Urabandai Tourism Material Library
This night fantasy was started by taking advantage of the fact that Renge Swamp, located near the Urabandai Site Station, freezes over in winter and is a place to rest and get trekking information for Urabandai
3,000 candles are lit all over the ice of Renge Swamp, creating a fantastical sight
Path of Light Source: Lake Country Urabandai Tourism Material Library
path of light from the site station to the swamp , and fireworks are launched into the night sky, illuminating the candle-lit ice with dazzling, colorful lights.
Source: Lake Country Urabandai Tourism Material Library
During the Urabandai Snow Festival Night Fantasy, various experiences such as "snowshoe trekking" and concert events will also be planned
Visitors lighting candles. Source: Lake and Marsh Country Urabandai Tourism Material Library
A food stall will be set up at the venue offering hot food and drinks, and visitors can participate in the candle lighting ceremony on the day without prior registration (first come, first served)
Urabandai Snow Festival Night Fantasy <Information>
Name: Urabandai Snow Festival Night Fantasy
Event period: Saturday, February 15, 2025 (Reiwa 7)
Location: Urabandai Site Station (Renge Swamp: Hibara, Kitashiobara Village, Yama District, Fukushima Prefecture)
In addition to the festivals introduced in this article, the following winter festivals are held in various places around the same time in February in the Aizu region, so we recommend enjoying visiting them all
Please note that dates for some of these winter festivals have not yet been announced for this season
Please check the official websites below before heading out
I'm a former Edokko man who loves Morioka and the six Tohoku prefectures, and I also love history, food, travel, sports, alcohol, and singing. I'll be introducing you to the interesting, delicious, and great things about Tohoku!
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