Fukushima Travel – Numazawa Lake Water Festival

On August 2nd and 3rd, 2025, the quiet mountain town of Kaneyama in Fukushima Prefecture came alive with color and excitement during the annual Numazawa Lake Water Festival — a unique summer event held on the remote shores of Lake Numazawa.

This little-known festival brings to life a local legend: a fearsome serpent that once haunted the lake is bravely defeated by villagers in a dramatic, costumed performance. On the night of August 2nd, the serpent “emerged” in front of a captivated audience, followed by a stunning fireworks display reflecting off the lake’s surface. On the following day, the main reenactment of the serpent-slaying took place in daylight, drawing applause from local residents and lucky travelers.

Lake Numazawa is truly off the beaten path — deep in the mountains, surrounded by dense forest, and far from any train line. Public transportation is extremely limited, making this festival difficult to access for most travelers. But that’s also what makes it special: no crowds, no commercialization — just pure, heartfelt local tradition.

If you want to experience authentic Japanese culture far away from the tourist trail, we recommend joining one of our tours.

Let Deep Japan Tours take you there comfortably and safely, while guiding you through the legends and beauty of this mysterious lake and its people.

Come for the folklore, stay for the fireworks — and leave with a story no one else has.

Fukushima travel, Numazawa Lake, Kaneyama Japan, hidden Japan festivals, remote Japan travel, Deep Japan Tours, summer events in Tohoku, Japanese lake festivals, traditional Japan, travel off the beaten path

https://www.kaneyama-kankou.ne.jp/news/news.html?id=255