In Yugawa, religious tradition, preserved cultural heritage, and rice cultivation offer starting points for a trip. In May, simultaneous rice planting turns the landscape green; a memorial festival is held at Shōjō-ji.
Temple, Festival, and Traditional Art
Every year on April 28, the Katsujō-Nenbutsu-Odori Memorial Festival is held at Shōjō-ji, with religious rites. After the memorial ceremony, the dance is performed in the temple grounds; it is designated an Important Intangible Cultural Property of the prefecture. The date and program may change, so check the festival details before your trip.
Shōjō-ji is open to visitors from April 1 through November 15. It is closed on Tuesdays and from August 13 to 15; visiting hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Check the details before your visit. The temple houses a wooden statue of Yakushi Nyorai, designated a National Treasure, and two attendant statues. It also preserves numerous statues from the early Heian period, kept at the temple since its founding about 1,190 years ago. It is rare in Japan for so many early Heian-period statues to survive in one place.
More Traces of History
The Kitada Castle Ruins date back to a lowland castle built in 1193 by Sajima Jirō Hiromori; part of the main enclosure remains. The Yugawa Takarakan displays clothing worn by Tetsuo Takaba, as well as posters and screenplays from 48 works. Check the museum’s current opening arrangements before visiting.
Rice Cultivation and Local Products
In May, simultaneous rice planting turns Yugawa into a green landscape. The junmai sake Ruriko is also connected to rice cultivation: it is brewed from Koshihikari grown in Yugawa.
Michi-no-Eki Aizu Yugawa–Aizubange has a market selling fresh local vegetables, a shop with Aizu souvenirs, as well as B-class gourmet dishes and seasonal gelato. Offerings may change. On the day of the Katsujō-Nenbutsu-Odori Memorial Festival, Yugawa products are also sold at a special tent at the entrance to Shōjō-ji, and rice cakes are distributed free of charge; these festival arrangements may also change.
When to Visit and Getting Around
When looking for a hotel in Yugawa, first decide what you’re traveling for: if the memorial festival is your main reason, plan your dates around April 28. For a temple visit outside the festival, choose your dates based on the season, day of the week, and visiting hours.
As part of a regional bus network reorganization in April 2026, a section of the Oikawa Line was incorporated into the Shiokawa–Kitakata route. The reorganization was intended to improve connections toward Shiokawa and Kitakata, as well as to Aizu Medical Center. Check current services before traveling.
Discover more destinations: Furudono, Fukushima, Minamisōma, Yama District, Tanagura, Kōriyama, Sukagawa, Iwaki.
View the broader travel guide: Fukushima Prefecture.
