Passing the Torch: Lanterns Sustaining A Bright Future for the Next Generation

Details

• Private experience

• Location: Yabasehonchō, Akita

• 2 hours

• 8 people max. Minimum 2 participants, solo guests may book at the price of 2 participants.

• You will be accompanied by a friendly guide who will provide interpretation in English.

A Craft of Total Celebration

A breathtaking display of power and precision, the Kanto Lantern Festival involves towering constructions of hand-made lanterns reaching 12 meters high into the night sky and weighing up to 50 kilograms, passed from hand to hand of participants, who take turns seamlessly balancing the pole on various locations throughout their body. The festival itself, held annually in Akita City during the first week of August, has a history originating over 260 years in the past and is designated as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property. Indespible to the festival are the lanterns, decorated with insignia to represent each neighborhood, painstakingly crafted from bamboo and Japanese washi paper, and optimized to both reduce weight and remain durable. This local artisan is one of the only remaining Kanto chouchin lantern craftsmen active, and is almost solely responsible for constructing the festival's unforgettable structures. Observe the meticulous process required to prepare even just a single lantern of the more than 10,000 required for the festival and immerse into a slice of culture found only in Akita.

What you’ll do

Visit a local folk museum and attempt lifting real Kanto Festival floats. Then, head to the workshop of the lantern craftsman who annually supplies the festival with specialized, hand-crafted lanterns and observe his creation process.

Who can attend

Children must be 11+

Availability

Everyday
Session 1 (10:00 - 12:00)
Session 2 (13:30 - 15:30)

Not available from May to July, August 13 - 16 (Obon festival) and New Year holidays

Access

7 minutes from Akita station by vehicle

Cancellation Policy

Please make your booking atlease 7 days in advance. See cancellation policy here.

* A detailed itinerary will be emailed to you once your booking has been confirmed.