Kiyomizu Shrine — Floating Lantern Festival on the River
Kiyomizu-jinja in Saga City hosts the Saga Lantern Festival (Saga-no-Nishi) in mid-August — a tradition where paper lanterns are floated on the Kase River in the Buddhist obon tradition. Unlike the famous Nagasaki Lantern Festival (which uses Chinese-style hanging lanterns in winter), Saga's floating lanterns create a river of light that moves with the current for 2km. The ceremony is entirely local — no commercial booths, no tourist signage — and attended primarily by residents honoring their ancestors.
Essential Information
Opening Hours
Annual event (mid-August): from 7:00 PM
Closed: Annual event only (mid-August) | Check Saga City events calendar for exact date
Entrance Fee
Free to observe | Lantern purchase for participation: ¥300
Best Season
Mid-August (obon period)
Visit Duration
2 hours (evening event)
Getting There
Access Information
Insider Guide
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