Join the Aizu Samurai Festival: Parade Only
The main parade of the famous three-day Aizu Festival will be held on Saturday 20th September, 2025. 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 plan only includes participation in the parade, although it includes the same interpreter, armour and weapons as the other plan. For the 'Total Samurai' plan, a premium experience including a visit to a swordsmith and a samurai swordsmanship class, please see the other listing. Tour price: 15,000 yen (An optional hotel stay on Friday 19th is available for an extra 7,000 yen per person.) ⭐ All genders welcome ⭐ English guide included ⭐ Armour and weapons included (weapon availability TBC) ⭐ Breakfast included with optional hotel stay --- SCHEDULE Friday 19th September (if hotel option selected) Check-in at 3pm Stay overnight at Aizu-Wakamatsu Ekimae Fuji Grand Hotel (dinner not included) Saturday 20th September Meet either 7.30am at the hotel (breakfast included) or 7:50am at Aizu-Wakamatsu City Hall 8am arrive at Tsurugajo Castle and change into armour Join the Aizu Festival procession Farewell and departure by 2pm latest --- 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 about our experience joining the Aizu Festival last year: 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 contact fukushima_tour@tif.ne.jp for more details about this year's festival.
Days of Week
Sat
Duration
7 hours
No Hotel
JPY 15,000
Hotel Stay
JPY 22,000
Highlights
Highlight #1
Join the famous Aizu Clan Lord Procession
Highlight #2
Experience the Aizu region's biggest festival
Highlight #3
Visit Aizu-Wakamatsu City and explore
Outline
Schedule
7:30
Meeting with tour operator and guide
Your guide will meet you either at your hotel at 7:30am, for guests taking the hotel package option, or at Aizu-Wakamatsu City Hall at 7:50am for those arranging their own accommodation or transport.
8:00
Join the procession at Tsurugajo Castle
After changing into the samurai armour and learning from your local guide about the history of the festival, you'll join your fellow samurai marching through the grounds of Tsurugajo Castle and the storied streets of Aizu-Wakamatsu.
14:00
Farewell and Departure
Plan Information
What's Included
- Hotel stay on Friday 19th September (optional)
- English-speaking festival guide
- Parade armour and weapons
- All travel costs during the tour
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 Friday 19th September.
- Lunch on the day of the festival
Requirements
- All genders are welcome.
Cancellation Policies
30%
31 days before to 00:00
40%
20 days before to 00:00
50%
1 day before to 00:00
After 00:00, 1 day before
100%
Participation Date