Arashiyama Floating Lantern, Kyoto

Bonfire and lanterns are set on “Osawa no Ike pond”

Nearly 57 million tourists visit Kyoto annually, but Kiyomizu-dera and Arashiyama / Sagano are competing for the top spot. So Arashiyama and Sagano are some of the most popular tourist spots in Kyoto and nationwide.
The typical scene of Arashiyama is Togetsukyo Bridge, but when viewed from the downstream side, the composition of the river, bridge and mountain is said to be very aesthetically pleasing. The mountains in the background are not too high and are well within view.
Also, because of the steep slope of Mount Arashiyama, cherry blossoms and maples have been planted for many years, making it easy to see each one from a distance. It is said that it makes the appearance of cherry blossoms and autumn leaves effective.

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Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Kyoto

https://diversity-finder.net/tourism/kiyomizu-dera-temple-kyoto

Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture is a synonym for Kyoto. Speaking of Kyoto? The more people who think “Kiyomizu-dera” in response to this question, the more representative tourist spots in Kyoto. There will be many people who have actually visited Kiyomizu-dera Temple, which is still one of the most popular tourist spots in Kyoto that is extremely popular not only in Japan but also overseas.Kiyomizu Temple, also called "Seisuiji", "Kiyomidera&...

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Togetsu-kyo Bridge, Kyoto

https://diversity-finder.net/tourism/togetsu-kyo-bridge

Arashiyama is the representative tourist destination in Kyoto. "Arashiyama", which is commonly referred to at the present time, is a general term for tourism areas centered on Togetsu-kyo Bridge. Speaking of strict geographical names, the south coast of Togetsu-kyo Bridge is Arashiyama area and the north shore is Saga area.Since the Heian period, Arashiyama has become a villa land of many aristocrats from its scenic land. "Boating" that the Emperor Daigo started was transm...

As is well known, there are many temples and shrines in the Arashiyama area, such as Tenryuji Temple, Jojakkoji Temple, Daikakuji Temple, and Nonomiya-jinja Shrine. Each has an old history, and many people come to worship. There are cherry blossoms, maples, bamboo grove, moss, etc. in and around the temples and shrines, and they will entertain you all year round.
Above all, various events are held at Daikakuji Temple depending on the season.
In summer, there is “Yoikobo”, where a bonfire and lanterns are set on “Osawa no Ike pond”. In the fall, there is a “Moon-viewing Night”, which is held around the harvest moon every year. Moon-viewing Night will be held on Osawa no Ike pond with “Ryuutou-Gekishu Ship” floating. You can buy a boarding ticket and board the ship, so be sure to experience this unusual event.
There are many other events as well, especially at Daikaku-ji, where there are many very beautiful events, so if you can match the timing, you can spend the best time on a date.

Charms and Highlights of “Arashiyama Floating Lantern”

Fantastic and beautiful scenery

“Toro-Nagashi” (Floating Lantern) is held to mourn the ancestors and deceased souls. The fantastic and beautiful scenery is a space where you can feel the distinctive atmosphere of Japan. The warm light that the lantern glows will surely heal your heart.
“Toro-Nagashi” (Floating Lantern) is a Japanese event that mourns the soul of a deceased person and flows a lantern with a fire in a river or the sea. It is a kind of fire of the event of “Obon Matsuri Festival” (a Festival of the Dead or Buddhist All Soul’s Day). It is often done jointly with summer festivals and fireworks festivals.
However, the time of “Obon” differs from region to region and it may be done as a special memorial event, so it does not happen all over the country at the same time. There are many areas that do not do “Toro-Nagashi”.
Depending on the region, there is also a place called “Shoro-Nagashi” about this event. It is said that they send family ancestors and also serve water dead and “muen botoke” (people without relatives).
“Arashiyama Floating Lantern” is an event of “Shoryo-Okuri” (send-off-spirits ceremony) which is held at Arashiyama Park of the south end of Togetsu-kyo Bridge from sunset to 21 o’clock on August 16th every year. From around sunset, after the legal requirements are done at Arashiyama Park, spirit of ancestors will send with lanterns. Also this event is famous for the evening of “Gozan Okuribi” (Mountain Bonfire), and the “torii” style bonfire can also be viewed.

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Kyoto Gozan Okuribi, Kyoto

https://diversity-finder.net/tourism/kyoto-gozan-okuribi-kyoto

Kyoto Gozan Okuribi (Mountain Bonfire) is a traditional bonfire tradition event that takes place every year in August at Mt. Nyoigatake in Sakyo Ward, Kyoto. It is widely known throughout Japan as “Daimonji-yaki” and “Daimonji-no-Okuribi”, but it is officially called “Gozan Okuribi”.The spirit of the dead, "Seirei", welcomed to the Bon Festival, has a religious meaning that it is sent back to the world. It is one of the four major events in Kyoto along with the Aoi Matsuri Festival ...

“Torii” style bonfire projected on the mountain and many lanterns floating on the water. The scenery which can be called the summer scenes is a masterpiece.

Send the spirit to the Land of Happiness

At the Bon Festival period, various events are held in Japan every year praying in various places. Arashiyama Floating Lantern is one of them as a sightseeing event representing Kyoto. It seems that this event began with the lanterns in 1949 to make the spirits of the war dead back. Send the lantern from the jetty and send the spirit to the Land of Happiness.

You can join that day

General tourists can also participate in Floating Lantern. Application for Floating Lantern can be made at the reception desk at the venue as well. One lantern is 1,000 yen, Mizutoba is one additional 200 yen. Mizutoba is like a gift, standing in front of a grave.

Thinking quietly, thanking your ancestors

In Japan, during the Bon festival, there is a custom to welcome the ancestral spirit, and to send it to the Land of Happiness after the festival is over. In other words, “Floating Lantern” is a ritual for spirit to ride this lantern and send it to Pure Land. Once a year, thinking quietly, thanking your ancestors, how about putting memorial service on “Floating Lantern”?

You can catch a world of delicate beauty

On the day from near the venue, you can see the “Daimonji” (the Chinese character, meaning is “big”) in the distance and near “Torii type” of “Gozan Okuribi” (Mountain Bonfire). Together with the fantastic sight of the lantern basketball, you can catch a world of delicate beauty.

Many tourists visit this event every year

The landscape that countless lights of lantern that are swaying on the river surface, and bornfire can be seen in the distance are beautiful views unique to Japan. And it is scenery of Bon Festival unique to Kyoto, where there are few lights around, and lots of lantern slowly flowing through the river. Therefore, many tourists visit this event every year. Why do not you join the Arashiyama Floating Lantern and feel the summer of Kyoto with solemnity?

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