Making a Wish on a Lantern this Summer at Nara’s Tokae Festival

Summer is the time in Japan for the Obon festival and ceremonies, which welcome the ancestors back to the realm of the living. In Nara this takes place in August. It involves fire, which is a feature of many Japanese festivals, especially those in Nara, partly because fire is believed to guide souls. Bringing this and other fire-related events together is the Tokae, which is a 10 day candle-lantern festival taking place on the evenings between August 5^th – 14^th from 7pm-9:30pm.

For 500 yen, you can light your own lantern and place it in Nara Park. This is called ikkyaku ittou – one-person one-lantern. There is an element of auspiciousness to it: as the candle melts it leaves a flower-like pattern (“toka” means “light flower” and refers to this pattern). The more flower-like it becomes, the luckier.

To purchase a lantern, go to the Ukigumo Enchi, which is situated next to Todaiji Temple (look/ask for the ikkyaku itto site). Locations for placing lanterns are all over the park – the Asajigawara Kaijo site (south of Nara National Museum) and the enchanting Ukimido pavilion on Sagi-ike Pond. Elsewhere at Todaiji Temple, Nara Prefectural Office, and Kohfukuji Temple, there are other lantern and light-related displays during this period.

By train to Nara – Get a bus or walk from Kintetsu Nara Station to the Daibutsudenmae Bus Stop. If coming from JR Nara Station, take a bus from bus stop 2 to Daibutsudenmae.

Admission free; lantern purchase 500 yen