🎎 Koganei River Lantern Festival古利根川流灯まつり

The Koganei River Lantern Festival is held in early August each year, and it is a traditional festival filled with dreamlike colors. Approximately 250 large lanterns float along about 1 kilometer of the Koganei River, creating a scene reminiscent of a fairyland, praised as the "Galaxy Descending from Heaven." This event began in the early Showa era (around 1935). It originated from a collaboration between shops in Sugito and Miyashiro towns to enhance local vitality, known as the "Lantern Floating Festival." The idea was to place many exquisite and beautiful lanterns into the Koganei River, which flows between the two towns. The "Lantern Floating Festival" was temporarily suspended but was revived in 1990, centered around Sugito's "Honcho Showa Association." All the lanterns are handmade by local residents. Many of the lanterns are constructed without a single nail or rivet, showcasing the artisans' exquisite craftsmanship. Each lantern bears the name of a shop, serving a promotional purpose as well. During the festival, the entire town is filled with a lively atmosphere, featuring not only the lantern floating but also dance performances, folk songs, shamisen performances, and colorful activities such as water fireworks. In recent years, the Koganei River Lantern Festival has appeared multiple times on Japanese television programs, becoming a festival that attracts many photography enthusiasts. It has also been selected by the Yomiuri Shimbun as one of the "Top 100 Scenic Heritage Sites in 21st Century Japan."

You can see Japan's largest lantern, which is as big as a tatami mat. The enchanting scenery is praised as the "galaxy descending from the sky." In addition to placing lanterns in the rivers, a variety of colorful activities such as water fireworks are also held simultaneously. It has been selected as one of the "100 Best Scenic Heritage Sites in 21st Century Japan."