Nihonmatsu Lantern Festival (Fukushima)(Google Maps)

Glowing red lanterns fill the night skies of Nihonmatsu City at this incredible annual event, bringing communities together for three incredible nights of celebration. Held on the first Saturday, Sunday and following Monday of October each year, the Nihonmatsu Lantern Festival is an energetic and thrilling festival with centuries of tradition behind it. The festival was first held in the 1640s as local feudal lord Mitsushige Niwa sought to bolster his new community’s piety to the gods. Believing this would increase loyalty, he opened the event to all classes and began what is now one of Japan’s most significant lantern festivals. It has also been listed as an important intangible folk cultural property by Fukushima Prefecture, confirming its historic and cultural importance.

Kasumigajo Park (Ruins of Nihonmatsu Castle), Fukushima(Google Maps)

Taking place in Nihonmatsu City, to the north of Fukushima Prefecture, the festival takes place with a stunning castle-town backdrop. As the evenings cool and fall leaves begin to turn, the festival marks the arrival of autumn and brings with it a burst of energy. It begins with a grand opening night the Yoi Matsuri, where seven taikodai floats representing the seven districts join an impressive central procession. Having been blessed by Shinto priests, each float has its own music and chants, passed down from generation to generation. This is no peaceful display, however, as the 11 meter-tall taikodai compete with sprints and spins, all to the great amusement of the crowds.

There are approximately 300 paper lanterns used to form the bodies of each float, with more used to create the decorative peaks called suginari. Visitors may be surprised to learn that each locally made lantern holds a real candle, with over 1500 used by each float. On opening night, a special ceremony sees the seven taikodai light their candles simultaneously using the sacred flame from Nihonmatsu Shrine in a sign of unity. For the final touch, two larger lanterns are carried on either side of each float, bearing the area name for all to see. Musicians and entertainers ride astride the floats, along with those tasked with carefully replacing the many candles.

On the second day, a mikoshi (portable shrine) parade takes place, with the evening seeing independent taikodai processions in their respective areas. The two elaborate mikoshi are a sight to behold, with gold decorations and incredible detail. Offering a chance to see the taikodai without lanterns, this is a valuable opportunity to appreciate the painstaking design of the floats. To close the festival, the third day involves groups of three and four floats processing until late into the night.

Negi-soba

As with all festivals in Japan, food stalls are a highlight of the event, offering a range of local delicacies to keep your energy up. Two of Fukushima’s top dishes are perfect for a festival snack and are simple but flavorful. Negi-soba is a simple dish with a twist: a bowl of buckwheat noodles served with a whole spring onion. Designed to bring good luck by remaining uncut, as well as being a crunchy snack, the onion can be used to slurp up the noodles. Alternatively, enban-gyoza are an all-round favorite in the region to their shareability. Served in disks, the fried dumplings are a great way to make new friends out on the festival streets. Serving up delicious treats and incredible sights, the Nihonmatsu Lantern Festival is a glowing success with long-running traditions. Joining the throngs to watch the skilled teams work together is a rare opportunity to see an inspiring display of teamwork on a grand scale.

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