“Tsuruga-jo Castle Projection Mapping 2026” from November 20; Aizu’s Traditional Culture and a First Sea-of-Clouds Effect on the Keep, Free to View

The 2026 edition of “Tsuruga-jo Castle Projection Mapping” will be held at Tsuruga-jo Castle in Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture, from Friday, November 20 to Sunday, November 22. At the venue, Tsuruga-jo Castle Park, images featuring local traditional culture such as Aizu lacquerware and Aizu cotton will be projected onto the keep and stone walls from 17:30 to 21:00. This year, a sea-of-clouds effect is added for the first time; viewing is free and no reservation is required. The event is produced and created by HITOHATA, INC.

*Disclosure: “Tsuruga-jo Castle Projection Mapping 2026” is an event produced and created by HITOHATA, INC., an affiliate of HITOHATA ASSOCIATION, the general incorporated association that operates TOKYO ART SPHERE (About us).

Aizu crafts, cherry blossoms and a sea of clouds: what is in the roughly 8-minute show

The motifs of the images are traditional culture such as Aizu lacquerware, Aizu painted candles and Aizu cotton. According to HITOHATA, INC.’s announcement of September 17, digital animations based on these will be projected onto the keep and stone walls. Landscape paintings depicting Aizu and “digital art of a profusion of blossoms” representing famous cherry blossom spots will also be shown.

The sea-of-clouds effect, new this year, is synchronized with the projection, presenting the castle at night as if floating wrapped in mist. The show alternates between a video of about 8 minutes and a pause of about 3 minutes, and the content is the same whenever you come between 17:30 and 21:00. How the sea of clouds is created and the number and models of projectors have not been announced.

Access and parking: the only free lot is the temporary parking at the former prefectural hospital site

Aizuwakamatsu City’s page (published September 28) said parking information would be “published later” and noted that, for safety, some parking lots in the park might not be available. As of October 23, the organizers’ information listed the following parking lots. Check the official website for the latest information.

• East Gate Parking: 130 spaces

• Temporary parking at the former athletics stadium: 400 spaces (available from 16:00)

• Temporary parking at the former prefectural hospital site: 140 spaces, free (available from 16:00; unavailable all day on the 22nd)

• Others: South Gate Parking (35 spaces), City Hall South Parking (100 spaces), Tsurugajo Kaikan Parking (50 spaces)

Only the temporary parking at the former prefectural hospital site is free; the others charge fees. Nishidemaru Parking cannot be used from 16:30 to 21:30 during the event. By car, it is about 15 minutes from the Aizu-Wakamatsu Interchange on the Ban-etsu Expressway. As parking space is limited, the city asks visitors to use public transportation or share rides.

By train, take the town loop bus “Haikara-san” from JR Aizu-Wakamatsu Station, get off at “Tsuruga-jo Iriguchi” and walk about 5 minutes. However, the last loop bus leaves Aizu-Wakamatsu Station at 18:05 and Tsuruga-jo Iriguchi at 18:14. As service ends less than an hour after the show begins, you need to plan another way to get back.

Projection goes ahead in the rain; guidance on photography, down to tripod height

The projection will take place even in the rain, but it may be suspended or canceled in stormy weather. As visitors will be walking through the park at night, they are asked to take care when moving around.

For photography, visitors are asked to refrain from using flash or drones, and from keeping a tripod set up in the front row for a long time when it is crowded. As the sound of continuous shooting can also disturb others, visitors are asked to refrain from it when crowded or to switch to silent shooting. Cameras mounted on tripods should be no higher than the photographer’s head, and visitors are asked to avoid shooting from stepladders and the like.

About 20,000 visitors in three days last year: what has changed in the second year

Projection onto the keep of Tsuruga-jo Castle was held from October 3 to 5, 2025, for the first time in six years, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the keep’s reconstruction. The 2025 subjects were Aizu lacquerware, Aizu painted candles, Fukushima’s flowers and paintings by the painter Sesson Shukei, and the hours were 18:00–21:00. According to the organizers, about 20,000 people visited over the three days.

The 2026 edition moves to November and starts 30 minutes earlier, at 17:30. Comparing the announced subjects, Aizu cotton, landscape paintings of Aizu and digital art of famous cherry blossom spots are new, and the sea-of-clouds effect is added. The structure is the same as the previous year: organized by the Tsuruga-jo Night Walk Executive Committee and co-organized by Aizuwakamatsu City, with the cooperation of the Aizuwakamatsu Tourism Bureau. As of October 23, the official website also lists the Tsuruga-jo Visitor Promotion Project Executive Committee as a co-organizer.

Aizuwakamatsu City’s page notes that, to improve the event, it may analyze visitor movements and other data in a form that does not identify individuals. The method of analysis and whether the results will be published are not stated.

As nearby information, the official website also introduces “Gokujo no Hashigozake” (the ultimate bar crawl). Guests staying at accommodations in the city who take the leaflet distributed at their lodging to participating establishments can enjoy a set of food and drink for 1,000 yen (tax included). It runs until March 31, 2027. Inquiries go to the Aizuwakamatsu City Nighttime Economy Promotion Council (Aizuwakamatsu City Tourism Division). Higashiyama Onsen and Ashinomaki Onsen are also suggested as places to stay.

From autumn into winter, projections continue on the nights of cultural properties

Nighttime projections on castles, temples and shrines continue around Japan this autumn. At Osaka Castle Main Tower, “SINFONIA,” commemorating the 160th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Italy, was screened until Sunday, October 25 (our article on Osaka Castle). At the National Treasure Zuiganji in Matsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, autumn night visits are being held from Friday, October 30, to Monday, November 23 (national holiday) (our article on Zuiganji). From Saturday, November 7, there will also be projections onto the tower gate and trees at Musashi Ichinomiya Hikawa Shrine in Saitama City (our article on Hikawa Shrine). In Tohoku, the “Hirosaki Castle Chrysanthemum and Autumn Leaves Festival” in Hirosaki Park screened projection mapping on flower art until November 8.

Considerations and procedures for projecting images onto cultural property buildings are summarized in our explainer on light shows at cultural properties.

For the Fukushima Museum, Oyakuen Garden, Sazaedo and other sights to visit during the day along with the castle, see our Aizuwakamatsu art guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a charge? Do I need to book?

It is free to watch and needs no advance registration.

What time should I go?

Shows run from 17:30 to 21:00. An approx. 8-minute video alternates with an approx. 3-minute break, and the content is the same whenever you visit.

Is there parking?

The only free option is the temporary car park on the former prefectural hospital site (140 spaces, from 16:00; unavailable on the 22nd); other car parks charge fees. The Nishidemaru car park cannot be used from 16:30 to 21:30. The city asks visitors to use public transport or share rides.

Can I get there by train and bus?

From JR Aizu-Wakamatsu Station, take the Haikara-san town loop bus to “Tsurugajo Iriguchi” and walk about 5 minutes. However, the last buses leave Aizu-Wakamatsu Station at 18:05 and Tsurugajo Iriguchi at 18:14, so you will need another way to get back.

What if it rains?

The show goes ahead in the rain, but may be paused or cancelled in stormy weather.

What kind of imagery will be shown?

Digital animations based on Aizu’s traditional culture, such as Aizu lacquerware, Aizu painted candles and Aizu cotton, are projected onto the castle keep and stone walls. Landscape paintings depicting Aizu and a “digital art of a hundred flowers in bloom” representing famous cherry-blossom spots are also shown, and in 2026 a sea-of-clouds effect is added for the first time. The roughly 8-minute show is repeated with breaks of about 3 minutes.

Can I take photos and videos? What are the photography rules?

Photography is allowed, but visitors are asked to refrain from using flash or drones. When it is crowded, avoid staying in the front row with a tripod for long periods and refrain from the sound of continuous shooting. Cameras on tripods should be no higher than the photographer’s head, and stepladders and the like should not be used.

How is it different from the 2025 event?

In 2025, the projection was held from October 3 to 5 for the first time in six years to mark the 60th anniversary of the keep’s reconstruction, and about 20,000 people visited over the three days (according to the organizers). The 2026 edition moves to November and starts 30 minutes earlier at 17:30; Aizu cotton, landscape paintings of Aizu and digital art of cherry-blossom spots are added as new themes, and a sea-of-clouds effect is introduced for the first time.

Overview

Name: Tsuruga-jo Castle Projection Mapping 2026
Dates: Friday, November 20 – Sunday, November 22, 2026
Hours: 17:30–21:00 (content of about 8 minutes projected continuously with intermissions of about 3 minutes)
Venue: Tsuruga-jo Castle Park (1-1 Otemachi, Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture)
Admission: Free (no advance application required)
In case of rain: Projection goes ahead in the rain; may be suspended or canceled in stormy weather
Parking: East Gate Parking 130 spaces, temporary parking at the former athletics stadium 400 spaces, temporary parking at the former prefectural hospital site 140 spaces (free; unavailable on the 22nd) and others. Nishidemaru Parking unavailable 16:30–21:30
Organizer: Tsuruga-jo Night Walk Executive Committee
Co-organizers: Aizuwakamatsu City, Tsuruga-jo Visitor Promotion Project Executive Committee
Cooperation: Aizuwakamatsu Tourism Bureau
Produced and created by: HITOHATA, INC.
Official website: https://tsurugacastle.com/

Nighttime events at castles across Japan are summarized in our roundup of castle projection mapping and night events, and winter light events in Tohoku and Hokkaido in our Tohoku and Hokkaido roundup.

*Information as of October 23, 2026. Please check the official website for the latest information.

For the castle’s history and the keep museum’s admission and opening hours, see our Tsuruga-jo Castle guide; for related events in Osaka, Hiroshima and Gifu this winter, see our winter 2026–27 events guide.

*Top image: Tsuruga-jo Castle Projection Mapping 2026 (from a press release by HITOHATA, INC.)

*This article was compiled by the TOKYO ART SPHERE editorial team based on press materials from HITOHATA, INC. (September 17, 2026), announcements by Aizuwakamatsu City and information on the official website (as of October 23, 2026).

Text: TOKYO ART SPHERE Editorial Team

A note from the publisher

*Disclosure: “Tsuruga-jo Castle Projection Mapping 2026” is an event produced and created by HITOHATA, INC., an affiliate of HITOHATA ASSOCIATION, the general incorporated association that operates TOKYO ART SPHERE (About us).

The latest information on events produced by HITOHATA, INC. is available at HITOHATA, INC.’s event information. Inquiries about planning projection mapping on cultural properties, government buildings and other urban buildings are accepted through the company’s contact form.