Fujiwara Autumn Festival
秋の藤原まつり
1–3 November 2027
Hiraizumi, Iwate
These dates repeat every year, so they are what to expect in 2027 rather than dates the organiser has announced yet — this page is updated as soon as it confirms them. Last held 1–3 November 2026.
Hiraizumi, in southern Iwate, was for a century the northern capital of the Fujiwara clan, and its temples of Chuson-ji, with its golden hall, and Motsu-ji, with its Pure Land garden, are a World Heritage Site. The Fujiwara Autumn Festival is the town's tribute to that heritage, held from 1 to 3 November when the maples on the temple hills are at their deepest red.
The festival opens on the 1st with a memorial service for the four Fujiwara lords at Chuson-ji at 10:00, after which a procession of children, hymn singers and monks walks from the main hall to the Konjikido, a smaller and gentler counterpart to the grand spring procession in May. The 2nd brings folk performances at Chuson-ji, the 3rd has Noh on its outdoor stage from 11:00, and Motsu-ji stages the Ennen, a repertoire of medieval temple dances that survives here almost nowhere else and is itself designated an intangible cultural property. The performances are quiet and formal, and they reward a patient audience.
Hiraizumi is a short local train ride from Ichinoseki on the Tohoku Shinkansen, and both temples can be reached on foot or by the loop bus from the station. The autumn festival is much smaller than its spring counterpart and its programme is published by the temples each autumn, so check with the town before travelling. Expect crisp weather, splendid foliage and a modest crowd, but no floats, fireworks or night events.