Takato Lantern Festival

About this event

"Takato Lantern Festival" is a combined festival of Takato-machi Hokomochi Shrine praying for bountiful harvests and good health. During the festival, the town is decorated with Chinese lantern-plant (ground cherry) lanterns styled after ears of rice, bathing the entire town in orange light at night. Visitors can enjoy a mystical atmosphere steeped in the ambiance of a historic castle town. During the eve festival (Yoi-matsuri), musical street processions of Takato Bayashi are performed, and during the main festival (Hon-matsuri), children's portable shrines (kodomo mikoshi) and Takato Bayashi musical processions take place. In addition, an autumn stone Buddha light-up titled "Sparkle of Stone Buddhas: Light of Keigi Wood Strips" is held concurrently at Kenpukuji Temple, where the wooden frames enclosing the stone Buddhas are removed to clearly reveal their intricate carvings. Along the approach to Kenpukuji Temple, around 100 lanterns made of thin wood sheets (keigi) created by local elementary school students and others are placed, gently illuminating the feet of the stone Buddhas. Admission, participation fees, and parking are all free.

Venue

Takato Castle Ruins

2296 Takatocho Higashitakato, Ina, Nagano 396-0213