Tou-no-Hetsuri Cliff Face
By Rachel Chang
The Aizu Tajima Gion Festival is a wonderful local festival held annually over 3 days from 22-24 July. The main attraction is the early morning parade of 40 women dressed in wedding kimonos on the 23rd July, which is a beautiful version of the famous Gion Matsuri held in Kyoto in the same month.
Although the parade is the main event, there’s a lot of excitement and tradition to be seen on all three days. On the 22nd July there are Children’s Kabuki theater performances on big festival floats, and on the final day of the 24th there are further ceremonies at the local shrine.
Tajima is a picturesque town located in the center of the Aizu-Kogen Highlands, just 3.5 hours from Asakusa and 1 hour from Aizu-Wakamatsu. I highly recommend visiting if you are in the area.
Hint: Make sure you book your accommodation well in advance if you plan to stay overnight in Tajima during the festival period. The local hotel and ryokan book out very quickly!
