Held in mid-January in the historic castle town of Aizuwakamatsu, the Aizu Candle Road event fills the streets near Tsurugajo Castle and the old samurai district with thousands of small candles set in snow lanterns and holders. The soft, golden candlelight creates a meditative and romantic atmosphere quite unlike the large-scale LED illuminations found elsewhere. Routes lead past historic sites including samurai residences and the Tsurugajo Castle moat, all beautifully framed by the gentle glow. Local volunteers hand-craft the candle lanterns, and warm food and sake are available nearby.
- Type
- Festival
- Category
- Snow/Winter
- Season
- Winter
- Month
- January
- Region
- Tohoku
- Prefecture
- Fukushima
- City
- Aizuwakamatsu
Highlights
- ◆Thousands of hand-placed candles illuminating castle town streets
- ◆Peaceful, intimate atmosphere distinct from LED-style events
- ◆Routes pass Tsurugajo Castle moat and samurai district
- ◆Locally crafted snow lanterns made by community volunteers
- ◆Warm amazake, sake, and local food stalls nearby