Tsuruga Castle Projection Mapping 2026 will take place from November 20 (Friday) to November 22 (Sunday), 2026 at Tsuruga Castle Park (鶴ヶ城城址公園) in Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture. The event is produced by HITOHATA, INC. and organized by the Tsuruga Castle Night Walk Executive Committee (鶴ヶ城ナイトウォーク実行委員会).
Projection mapping videos are projected onto the keep and stone walls of Tsuruga Castle, a castle regarded as one of the most beautiful in Japan. The videos include digital animation themed on traditional Aizu culture such as Aizu-nuri lacquerware, Aizu painted candles (e-rosoku) and Aizu cotton (momen), landscape paintings depicting Aizu, and digital art of a profusion of blossoms symbolizing a famous cherry blossom spot.
A sea-of-clouds effect is also staged in time with the projection mapping, creating a nighttime scene of Tsuruga Castle floating in mist.
Viewing is free and no advance registration is required.
The 2025 edition drew about 20,000 visitors over three days and received a strong response. Following that reception, this year's event will be held with even richer content. The projection mapping will decorate Tsuruga Castle, the symbol of Aizuwakamatsu City.
Event Details
| Event Name | Tsuruga Castle Projection Mapping 2026 |
| Dates | November 20 (Friday) to November 22 (Sunday), 2026 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM |
| Venue | Tsuruga Castle Park (鶴ヶ城城址公園) 1-1 Otemachi, Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima (福島県会津若松市追手町1-1) |
| Admission | Free to view, no advance registration required |
| Organizer | Tsuruga Castle Night Walk Executive Committee (鶴ヶ城ナイトウォーク実行委員会) |
| Co-organizers | Aizuwakamatsu City, Tsuruga Castle Visitor Promotion Project Executive Committee (鶴ヶ城誘客促進事業実行委員会) |
| Cooperation | Aizuwakamatsu Tourism Bureau (一般財団法人会津若松観光ビューロー) |
| Production | HITOHATA, INC. |
| Official Website | https://tsurugacastle.com/ |
- About 8 minutes of content is projected continuously, with an intermission of about 3 minutes in between.
- The projection takes place in the rain as well, but may be paused or cancelled in severe weather.
- The same footage can be viewed at any time during the event hours.
Access
- By bus: Take the Machinaka Shuyu loop bus "Haikara-san" (まちなか周遊バス「ハイカラさん」) from JR Aizu-Wakamatsu Station and get off at Tsuruga Castle Iriguchi (鶴ヶ城入口). The venue is about a 5-minute walk from the stop.
- The last bus departs Aizu-Wakamatsu Station-mae (会津若松駅前) at 6:05 PM, and the last bus departs Tsuruga Castle Iriguchi (鶴ヶ城入口) at 6:14 PM.
- By car: About 15 minutes from Aizu-Wakamatsu IC on the Ban-etsu Expressway.
Parking
| Parking Lot | Capacity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| East Gate Parking Lot (東口駐車場) | 130 spaces | |
| Former Athletic Stadium Temporary Parking Lot (旧陸上競技場臨時駐車場) | 400 spaces | Available from 4:00 PM |
| Former Prefectural Hospital Site Temporary Parking Lot (県立病院跡地臨時駐車場) | 140 spaces | Free of charge. Available from 4:00 PM. Not available all day on Sunday, November 22 |
| South Gate Parking Lot (南口駐車場) | 35 spaces | |
| City Hall South Parking Lot (市役所南側駐車場) | 100 spaces | |
| Tsuruga Castle Hall Parking Lot (鶴ヶ城会館駐車場) | 50 spaces |
- The Former Prefectural Hospital Site Temporary Parking Lot is free of charge. The other parking lots are paid.
- The Nishi-Demaru Parking Lot (西出丸駐車場) is not available during the event (4:30 PM to 9:30 PM).
Requests to Visitors
- Because the event is held at night, please take care when walking.
- When taking photos or videos, please refrain from flash photography, drone photography, and long-duration shooting with a tripod in the front row when it is crowded. The shutter sound of continuous shooting may bother people nearby, so please avoid continuous shooting when it is crowded or use a silent shooting function. Because the video moves quickly, video recording is recommended when using a smartphone.
- When using a tripod, the camera position is limited to the height of the photographer's head, regardless of the viewing location (except for shooting by official recording staff). Please also refrain from shooting while using a stepladder or any similar item that keeps your feet off the ground.
Nearby Information
Gokujo no Hashigozake (極上のはしご酒)
At participating shops in Aizuwakamatsu City, a set of a dish chosen with care by the shop owner and a tasty alcoholic drink is available for ¥1,000 (tax included) under the "Gokujo no Hashigozake" program. It lets visitors tour the town at night, enjoying Aizu flavors and drinks together with the projection mapping.
| Period | April 1 (Wednesday), 2026 to March 31 (Wednesday), 2027 |
| Eligibility | Guests staying at accommodations in Aizuwakamatsu City |
| Price | ¥1,000 (tax included), once per person per shop |
| Available Hours | Varies by shop |
| Inquiries | Aizuwakamatsu City Night-Time Economy Promotion Council (Aizuwakamatsu City Tourism Division) (会津若松市ナイトタイムエコノミー推進協議会（会津若松市観光課）) TEL: 0242-39-1251 |
| More Details | https://www.aizukanko.com/event/844 |
- The offer can be used only on the day of the stay and the following day.
- The "Gokujo no Hashigozake" leaflet is required for use. It is distributed at the accommodations.
- Participating shops, menus, business hours and other details may change.
- Please refrain from staying at one shop for more than 30 minutes with only the "Gokujo no Hashigozake" set. If you stay longer, an additional order is required.
Higashiyama Onsen and Ashinomaki Onsen
Aizuwakamatsu City has Higashiyama Onsen, which has about 1,300 years of history since it opened and flourished as the "okuzashiki" (inner retreat) of the Aizu domain, and Ashinomaki Onsen, which springs up on the banks of the Okawa River.
Both hot spring areas offer a historic atmosphere and gorge scenery through the seasons, and can be visited along with the projection mapping.
Accommodation information: https://local.staynavi.direct/yado_aizukanko/search/results?pf=7&ar=aizu
Images of Tsuruga Castle Projection Mapping 2026
Record Photos from Tsuruga Castle Projection Mapping 2025
