Nishikawa Thousand Lights Festival

About this event

Held at Yoshimizu Shrine in Nishikawa, Ryuo Town, Shiga Prefecture, the Nishikawa Thousand Lights Festival is a mystical festival to ward off disasters and pray for bountiful harvests. It is held every year on the 210th day from the start of spring (around the 210th day has traditionally been considered an unlucky day with many natural disasters), offering sacred sake, offerings of food, and one thousand lights to the enshrined deity. Until recent years, 1,000 lights were dedicated using unglazed earthenware plates (kawarake) with rapeseed oil and wicks, but passing down the tradition became difficult with the times, so candle lights are currently offered instead. While gazing at the mystical one thousand lights, participants celebrate with multi-tiered food boxes and bento box lunches brought by each person. The festival is held from 5:30 PM to around 9:00 PM.

Venue

Yoshimizu Shrine

539 Nishikawa, Ryuo-cho, Gamo-gun, Shiga 520-2572