Festivals & Events
Fujiwara Autumn Festival 秋の藤原まつり
Parades, Noh plays, and chrysanthemums at a festival honoring a noble clan and praying for the future
The breathtaking beauty of Chusonji Temple in Iwate's Hiraizumi 
area, wreathed in the colors of the autumn leaves, becomes even more impressive during its Fujiwara Autumn Festival . Held in early November, the festival honors the Fujiwara leaders enshrined in the Golden Pavilion.
Don't Miss
- The parade of children and monks, dressed in period clothing, from the Main Hall to the Golden Pavilion, in the morning on November 1
- A traditional Noh play held on the temple stage on November 3
How to Get There
You can reach Chusonji by bus, taxi or on foot from Hiraizumi Station on the JR Tohoku Line.
Take the Tohoku Shinkansen to Ichinoseki Station and change trains onto the JR Tohoku Line bound for Morioka. Get off at Hiraizumi Station. It's a 10-minute bus ride or a 30-minute walk to Chusonji.
A three-day celebration
Beginning on November 1, Chusonji holds a three-day memorial festival for the Fujiwara family leaders who built the temple and the surrounding structures, including Motsuji, in Hiraizumi.
A parade caught in time
A procession of children, singers, and monks, dressed in the style of the late Heian period, traverse the temple grounds to the Golden Pavilion where they pay their respects to the Fujiwara leaders enshrined inside.
An extravaganza of color
The festival coincides with the Chrysanthemum Festival, which runs from October into November. The vibrant hues of the chrysanthemum flowers coupled with the fiery fall foliage make the temple a rich tapestry of color and beauty.
Displays made of chrysanthemums that have been shaped into various designs grace the temple grounds.
* The information on this page may be subject to change due to COVID-19.
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