Lantern Events in Japan

Nankinmachi Lantern Fair

The already beautiful and bustling streets of Kobe’s China Town will be decorated with hundreds of red lanterns until January 9. The magical surroundings are perfect for an evening stroll …

Onomichi Lantern Festival

Onomichi is a world heritage listed town on the Seto Inland Sea in Hiroshima Prefecture made famous in the classic Ozu film Tokyo Story. Despite the love of things traditional here, the lanterns …

Shoro Nagashi Lantern Floating Ceremony

For 2022 (as with 2020 and 2021), the ceremony will take place, but sightseers are discouraged. The ceremony is intended for those who have lost relatives since the last O-Bon. The annual holiday …

Hiroshima Toro Nagashi

Each year, on August 6th, candle-lit lanterns are set afloat on the Motoyasu River next to Hiroshima’s A-Bomb Dome in remembrance of deceased ancestors and as a wish for world peace. The …

Akita Kanto Festival

In 2022, while many events will go ahead, the usual opportunity to mingle and take pictures (known as Furei Kanto) and the citizens’ parade will be canceled. Kanto (not related to the …

Kihoku Lantern Festival 2023

The Kihoku Lantern Festival takes place in the port town of Nagashima in Kihoku, Mie Prefecture. Each year a large, elaborate cloth lantern is set afloat on the harbor in the afternoon. After …

Otaru Light Snow Path 2023

Timed to coincide with Sapporo’s giant winter festival, Otaru’s Light Snow Path (Otaru Yuki Akari no Michi — the awkward name is a direct translation) event is on a much more …

Uesugi Snow Lantern Festival

In Yonezawa City, there is a wonderful lantern festival that has been going on for nearly 50 years. What happens? 200 snow lanterns and around 1000 snow caves are lit up in Matsugasaki Park in …