Seasonal Event
19 to 21 September 2026
Aizu, Fukushima
5.5 hours or overnight
Min 1
Join the Aizu Festival Parade as a Samurai
What you can expect
Celebrate Aizu's rich samurai heritage in their annual Aizu Festival Parade as you are guided by an English speaking local guide
Enjoy artillery displays and participate in the parade of samurai as a samurai!
Visit Tsurugajo Castle and don the traditional armour of a foot soldier in the gunnery corps of the Aizu Domain
Stay at the beautiful and historic Ookawaso Inn, where you will train under a real samurai instructor to hone your skills! (only for Package D)
Package Options
There are 4 packages which you can select from
Plan A: Parade Only - ¥15,000 per person (only 20 spots available)
Plan B: Parade + 1 night stay - ¥22,000 per person (only 15 spots availalbe)
Plan C: Parade + 2 night stay - ¥29,000 per person (only 15 spots available)
Plan D: Parade + Ookawaso Samurai Experience - ¥120,000 to ¥135,000 per person (only 10 spots available)
Location & how to get there
From Aizu-Wakamatsu Station to Aizu-Wakamatsu Ekimae Fuji Grand Hotel: The Aizu-Wakamatsu Ekimae Fuji Grand Hotel is just a 3 minute walk from Aizu-Wakamatsu Station (turning right when exiting the station)
Parking is available at Tsuruga Castle Gymnasium (¥200 for first hour, ¥100 for each additional hour) or at the entrance of Tsuruga Castle Park (¥300 for 2 hours, ¥100 for each additional hour)
Description
Imagine marching through the streets of a Japanese castle town in full samurai armour — this is not a re-enactment for spectators.
Every year, Aizu-Wakamatsu celebrates its rich samurai heritage through the Aizu Festival Parade — a three-day celebration around the castle and main street honouring the 3,000 members of the Aizu Clan who perished during the Boshin War. This festival is the region's biggest event of the year and welcomes visitors from all over Japan.
The main feature is the Aizu Hanko Gyoretsu (Lord's Procession), where 500 people parade through downtown Aizu-Wakamatsu, magnificently recreating the world of the samurai. The procession is headed by flag bearers holding the standards of the feudal lords of the Aizu Domain, with participants representing celebrated lords including Lord Uesugi, Lord Hoshina, and Lord Matsudaira.
Now, for the first time, visitors can step into this procession — dressed in full samurai armour, marching alongside the people of Aizu!
Other things to note
Each tour comes with a local English speaking guide to tell you all about the town, the history and tales of the samurai in the Aizu clan
Visitors can also enjoy watching sword dancing of the Byakkotai warriors and sword fight performances given by professional actors with the castle keep of Tsurugajo in the background
All tours will go ahead regardless of the weather. In the event of unexpectedly severe weather, the event may be cancelled with a decision being made on the day
All plan packages are created by Aizu Dream Development Inc., a Fukushima Prefectural Governor Registered Travel Agency (No. 3-4)
Can I travel to Aizu-Wakamatsu on the day of the festival?
Is parking available?
Is breakfast & dinner included in the accommodation packages?
What should I wear?
What is the most convenient way to get there?
Do I need to provide my passport details when booking?
