2026 Tochio Festival: A Full Day Course

This one-day course centers on the first day of the 'Tochio Festival' (August 22-23, 2026), held in the central area (Yachi-dori and surroundings) of the Tochio district of Nagaoka City, a small castle town nestled in the mountains. At midday, visit the ruins of Tochio Castle, where Uesugi Kagekatsu, a warlord connected to Uesugi Kenshin, spent his boyhood. At the top of the steep mountain path, the ruins of the main keep offer a panoramic view of the town of Tochio. Once back at the foot of the mountain, pay your respects at the Great Cedar of Rengeji Temple, a giant tree designated as a prefectural natural monument estimated to be about 1,300 years old, and take a break at Michi-no-Eki Tochio while enjoying the local specialty, Tochio fried tofu. In the evening, have an early dinner around Honmachi-dori, and from 17:00 the whole town transforms into the stage for the festival. It's a warm summer festival day, unique to this small mountain castle town.