Join the Aizu Samurai Festival: Total Samurai Experience

The main parade of the famous three-day Aizu Festival will be held on Sunday 20th September, 2026. In this special program, you’ll participate in the procession as a Japanese samurai of the Aizu Domain, who ruled here before their defeat at the dawn of the Meiji Restoration. The highlight of the festival, in this parade you’ll join roughly 500 lords, nobles, soldiers, squires, court ladies, dancers and more as they walk through the streets surrounding Tsurugajo Castle. Aizu’s largest festival, memorialising the Aizu Domain warriors who lost their lives fighting Imperial forces in 1868, also includes swordsmanship demonstrations, a lantern parade and traditional folk dancing. There are two courses available; this 'Total Samurai' plan is a longer premium experience in which guests will experience the breadth of samurai culture in the Aizu region. This was one of the last heartlands of the samurai's power and influence before they were abolished by the Emperor - there's no better place to learn about samurai culture and to experience it for yourself. This premium plan includes: - An English interpreter and guide on the day of the festival - Participation in the festival - Armour and weapons (weapon availability TBC) - Lunch on the day of the festival - Samurai class under a samurai instructor who once choreographed on KILL BILL - A stay at Ookawaso, called one of the most beautiful ryokan in Japan Tour price: 120,000 yen All genders welcome. For the plan involving only participation in the parade, please see the other listing. https://book.fukushima.travel/products/ddd8100f-38f9-5dca-b6df-98c5591b6d04?lng=en --- SCHEDULE Saturday 19th September Stay overnight at Aizu-Wakamatsu Ekimae Fuji Grand Hotel (dinner not included) Sunday 20th September Meet with the tour operator at 7.30am at the hotel (breakfast not included) Arrive at Tsurugajo Castle for 8am and change into armour Join the Aizu Festival procession Lunch Samurai swordsmanship class in the dojo of Ookawaso ryokan Stay overnight at luxury ryokan Ookawaso (dinner included) Monday 21st September Breakfast Check-out 10am Free shuttle bus service back to Aizu-Wakamatsu Station --- This experience can only proceed if the minimum number of participants are met (at least two people). In the event the experience cannot go ahead, participants will still be able to join the Aizu Festival parade via our other experience: please see the 'Parade Only' page. The 2024 edition of the festival was affected heavily by bad weather that caused some festivities on the previous night to be cancelled, and the parade was held with participants wearing plastic ponchos as to not damage the traditional armour. Please be aware that the event may be subject to change. Read more about the experience of joining the Aizu Festival: https://fukushima.travel/blogs/a-guide-to-the-aizu-festival-%E2%80%93-and-how-to-join-yourself/158 More information about the Aizu Festival: https://fukushima.travel/destination/aizu-festival/205 This experience is run by the tour operator, Aizu Dream Development. https://att.add.travel/ Please be aware the parade takes place on the Sunday 20th September. This package starts from 19th September to account for hotel bookings -- please keep in mind that cancellations on the 19th will be treated as a day-of cancellation. --- ROOM BOOKINGS Rooms at Ookawaso are for two people by default. If you know who you'd like to share a room with, please write their name in the special requests section of the booking form, and ask them to write your name when they book. (This is not required for a two-person booking.) If you do not list a pair, or if you'd prefer not to share a room, please be aware that a 15,000 yen surcharge will be added for a single room. Please contact fukushima_tour@tif.ne.jp for more details.

• Days of Week

  Sat

• Duration

  1d 6h

• Twin Room (shared)

  JPY 120,000

• Single Room

  JPY 135,000

• Highlight #1

  Join the famous Aizu Clan Lord Procession

• Highlight #2

  Study under a sword instructor in samurai class

• Highlight #3

  Stay at one of Japan's best ryokan

• What's Included

  • Hotel stay on Saturday 19th September and Sunday 20th September
  • Lunch and dinner on Sunday 20th September
  • English-speaking festival guide
  • Parade clothes and weapons
  • Transport between locations

• What's Not Included

  • Please arrange your own transportation to and from the Aizu area.
  • Please arrange your own dinner plans for the night of Saturday 19th September, and breakfast on the Sunday 20th September.

• Requirements

  • All genders are welcome.

• Cancellation Policies

  • Until 00:00, 20 days prior: 0%
  • Until 00:00, 7 days prior: 20%
  • Until 00:00 the day before: 30%
  • Until 07:00 on the day: 40%
  • After 07:00 on the day: 100%