Visitors took photos and enjoyed the lantern illuminations everywhere in the town (in Usuki-shi, Oita Prefecture)
A long step toward a temple was completely covered by the bamboo lanterns.
“Usuki-Takeyoi” is a bamboo lantern festival held in Usuki city, Oita Prefecture, which is one of the largest bamboo producers in Japan. On the 1st weekend of November every year, the main part of the Japanese castle city on the east coast of Oita Prefecture is filled with dreamy light of 20,000 bamboo lanterns.
Dreamy lights of bamboo art objects
The lantern festival began in 1997 with the purpose of stimulating local economy and people’s interest in bamboo forest preservation. This year’s 20th festival was held on November 5 and 6, 2016, and brought 110,000 visitors in total in two days to the city with a population of 38,000.
People in old traditional costume paraded through the town to honor Hannya-hime, a legendary daughter of the man who is said to have constructed one of Japan’s national treasures, Usuki stone Buddhas.
It took approximately two months for Usuki citizens and volunteers to make bamboo lanterns as well as big and small art objects to illuminate the port town’s famous tourist spots including the ruins of ancient Usuki Castle and streets with temples and old samurai houses.
Many other regions in Oita Prefecture hold festivals that focus on local bamboo production as local attraction. “Chikuraku” bamboo lantern festival in Taketa city and “Sen-nen Akari” bamboo lantern festival in Hita city held in November every year are also ｐopular.
Bamboo art object in twilight