Fukushima Travel – Aizu Erosoku Festival 2026

On February 13 and 14, 2026, the Aizu Erosoku Festival was held in Aizuwakamatsu, illuminating the historic castle town with thousands of hand-painted candles.

Last year, the 26th festival in 2025 was forced to cancel due to the heaviest snowfall ever recorded in the city’s history. In recent years, Japan has also experienced extreme summer heat and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. Many feel a quiet but growing uncertainty about the future as nature shows clear signs of change.

Against this backdrop, the 2026 festival carried deeper meaning.

Candles That Carry the Spirit of Aizu

For generations, Aizu painted candles (Erosoku) have illuminated the thoughts, prayers, and daily lives of local people. Decorated with delicate floral motifs, these candles are more than beautiful crafts—they are symbols of warmth, resilience, and heartfelt intention.

The culture nurtured in Aizu has long sustained its community, and it continues to serve as a spiritual anchor no matter how times may change.

Listening to Nature, Lighting Human Prayers

This year’s theme reflected a powerful message:

Erosoku candles “light human thoughts and prayers.”
Snow invites us to “listen to the voice of nature.”

The record-breaking snowfall of the previous year was seen not simply as a weather event, but as a message from nature itself. The festival became an opportunity to pause, to listen, and to reflect on what is happening in our environment.

Surrounded by snow, visitors walked through softly glowing candlelight installations across the city. The flickering flames contrasted beautifully against the white winter landscape, creating a scene that felt both fragile and eternal.

A Festival of Gratitude and Hope

The Aizu Erosoku Festival is not just a winter event—it is a moment of gratitude. Gratitude for the culture that has been carefully preserved, for the relationship between people and nature, and for the resilience of community spirit.

In a time of environmental uncertainty, lighting these candles becomes an act of prayer—for harmony, for understanding, and for a hopeful future lived together with nature.

Experience the quiet strength of Aizu in winter, where snow and candlelight come together to illuminate both the past and the path forward.

https://www.aizu.com/erousoku/