Samurai vs. Dragon Festival on Lake Numazawa… ⚔️
Okay, this has got to be one of the wackiest festivals I’ve been to in Japan. This is Lake Numazawa in Okuis. It’s said that over 800 years ago, a great serpent lived in the lake until it was defeated by a warlord of the ISU region. Oh, there he goes now. Yes. Every August, people come from all over to watch samurai theater. The serpent arrives on the Saturday night during a huge fireworks display, and then a group of locals and high school students dress up as samurai to exterminate it on the Sunday. Go get them, boys. The Saturday fireworks are great and it’s a perfect event for families with kids.
Held on the first weekend of August every year, the Lake Numazawa Festival is one of the best events of the summer in Fukushima thanks to its beautiful locale and unique main event. Re-enacting the legend told for generations, the local people of Kaneyama don samurai armour and sail out to face the great serpent.
This year I combined the lake festival with a trip to the Higashiyama Onsen Bon Odori festival in Aizu, but you could also head to Fukushima City and see the Waraji Festival on the same weekend! There’s no shortage of options for summer festivals, which usually involve food stalls, fireworks and a carnival atmosphere.
Although it’s busy during festival season, Lake Numazawa is also a great camping option! Visitors often choose it for its pristine waters and secluded location in the mountains. Or you could also do the Mugenkyo valley ferry ride from here, with the dock just 10mins down the road.
Learn more here:
https://fukushima.travel/destination/lake-numazawa-festival/259
📍 Lake Numazawa, Kaneyama, Onuma District, Fukushima
🚗 About 1hr from Aizu-Wakamatsu
🚌 (Shuttle buses run from the car park, taking 2-3mins)
沼沢湖水祭り（金山町）
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🤺⚔️🐉
AloJapan.com