The Yamaguchi Tanabata Chochin Matsuri, held each August 6–7, is one of Japan's most visually stunning lantern festivals and a designated national important intangible folk cultural property. More than 10,000 hand-crafted chochin lanterns in red and white are suspended along the main shopping arcades, creating luminous tunnels of light that represent welcoming ancestral spirits home for Obon. The tradition dates back over 600 years to the Ouchi clan era when Yamaguchi was known as the 'Kyoto of the West.' The festival draws over 200,000 visitors and is considered unmissable in the San'yo region.
- Type
- Festival
- Category
- Matsuri
- Season
- Summer
- Month
- August
- Region
- Chugoku
- Prefecture
- Yamaguchi
- City
- Yamaguchi
Highlights
- ◆Over 10,000 red and white chochin lanterns covering entire arcades
- ◆600-year-old tradition from the Ouchi clan era
- ◆Designated important intangible national folk cultural property
- ◆Known as one of Japan's top three lantern festivals
- ◆Evening atmosphere transforms the entire city center