Yame Lantern Festival — 300-Year-Old Paper Lanterns
The Yame Lantern Festival, held annually in mid-November on the grounds of Yame Hachimangu Shrine, is a gathering of over 250 traditional wagasa (oil-paper parasols) and massive chochin (hanging lanterns) made by the handful of surviving Yame paper craftsmen. Yame is the last place in Japan with an active manufacturing tradition for the enormous 'giant paper lanterns' (ogutsuna odori chochin) used in traditional bon dances — some exceeding 2 meters in diameter, assembled from hand-lacquered bamboo frames and hand-stretched washi paper.
Essential Information
Opening Hours
Festival: 3rd weekend of November, lanterns lit 6:00–9:00 PM | Workshops: year-round by advance booking
Closed: Festival: annual November event only | Workshop: by appointment
Entrance Fee
Festival: free | Lantern workshop: ¥3,500–6,000
Best Season
3rd weekend of November for festival
Visit Duration
2–3 hours (festival) | 3 hours for workshop
Getting There
Access Information
Insider Guide
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