Centuries-Old Miyazu Tradition Lights Up Obon Sea

Aug 17, 2026 | News On Japan

KYOTO - The Miyazu Lantern Floating and Fireworks Festival, a traditional summer event said to have a history of more than 400 years, illuminated the waterfront in Miyazu, Kyoto Prefecture, as lanterns carrying prayers drifted across the sea and fireworks lit the night sky.

The festival has been handed down through generations by local residents and has continued to develop while preserving its historical and cultural significance.

Held during the Obon period, the event centers on floating lanterns on the water, creating a solemn display of lights across the sea before and during the fireworks program.

Crowds gathered along the waterfront to watch the lanterns and fireworks, with organizers repeatedly asking spectators to follow safety rules and cooperate so that the event could proceed smoothly.

As darkness fell, the floating lights spread across the water while successive fireworks displays illuminated the sky above Miyazu.

The combination of lanterns, fireworks and reflections on the sea has become a defining feature of the festival, bringing together remembrance, prayer and a community tradition that has endured for centuries.

Source: YOMIURI

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