Setsubun Mantōrō 節分万燈籠
Over 3,000 shrine lanterns lit in Nara (3 Feb)
This 800-year old festival is held at Nara City’s most famous and sacred shrine, Kasuga Taisha. Over 3,000 stone and brass lanterns are lit with flickering candles, many of which were presented to the shrine by local residents and business people through the centuries.
The festival is associated with the making and granting of wishes, so turn up with some good ones.
The lanterns are also lit on August 14 & 15 as part of a lantern festival.