Product Description

The Kihoku Lantern Festival is one of Mie Prefecture’s most unique and visually stunning summer events. Celebrated for its vibrant combination of giant lanterns and synchronized fireworks over the sea, it has become a signature tradition in eastern Kii. The 2025 festival date has not yet been confirmed but is expected to be announced in early to mid-May via the official website and social media.

Venue

Nagashima Port, Kihoku Town, Mie Prefecture
Organizer: Kihoku Town Lantern Festival Executive Committee

Access to the Venue

By Car:
Approx. 5 minutes from Kii-Nagashima IC (Kisei Expressway)
Approx. 2 hours from Nagoya
Approx. 1 hour from Tsu or Ise

By Train:
Approx. 15 minutes on foot from Kii-Nagashima Station (Nanki Express stop)

What to Expect

The Kihoku Lantern Festival is known for its one-of-a-kind competition between giant lanterns and themed fireworks, held right on the sea. These artistic displays are designed from scratch by a special fireworks team known as the Fireworks Room, which works in close collaboration with professional pyrotechnicians. The fireworks are launched with carefully calculated angles to complement and illuminate the lanterns as they float across the bay.

The festival also includes food stalls with local seafood specialties, lantern-making workshops for kids, and live entertainment from local performers. It draws families, photographers, and festival-goers from all over Japan, and in recent years, from overseas as well.

Festival Highlights

Part 1: The Fireworks Room in Charge

This specialized group within the executive committee handles everything fireworks-related. With the support of Wada Fireworks Co., Ltd., they design displays themed around local stories and folklore. Fireworks are launched to enhance the colors and forms of the giant lanterns on the water.

Part 2: Lantern vs. Fireworks Performance

The central attraction is the “match” between the glowing lantern and the vibrant fireworks. As the lantern sails across the sea, fireworks light up the night sky in perfect timing, creating a memorable, immersive experience.

Part 3: “Saiun Kujaku” – The Colorful Cloud Peacock

Developed over three years, this dramatic fireworks display was designed to overcome the physical limitations of the launch site. The result is a breathtaking, rainbow-like explosion resembling a peacock’s feathers fanned out in the sky. This signature display is only seen at this festival.

Special Finale: “Saiun Kujaku Senrin”

A grand climax that features the Saiun Kujaku fireworks launched simultaneously with Senrin (Thousand-Wheel Fireworks). The entire sky lights up in a coordinated burst of colors, accompanied by deep sound reverberations through the coastal hills.

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History of the Festival

The event dates back to 1928, when it was originally held as a river-opening celebration by the local Young People’s Group. At that time, hundreds of Miyakodori-shaped lanterns were floated down the Akabane River. Due to social changes and funding issues, the festival was discontinued in 1974.

In 1987, the youth division of the Kihoku Chamber of Commerce worked to revive it with a modern twist — introducing massive floating lanterns and pyrotechnic choreography. Since then, the festival has grown year by year, thanks to passionate community involvement and national recognition.

Today, even children from local kindergartens and schools contribute by making their own lanterns, transforming the festival into a true intergenerational cultural celebration.

Good to Know

• Admission: Free
• Food & Drink: Festival booths and local vendors available
• Seating: Bring your own leisure sheet or chair for best comfort
• Photography: Tripods allowed in designated areas
• Rain Policy: Event may be postponed in case of severe weather