Three major fireworks festivals in Amanohashidate

Amanohashidate Monjudo
Voyaging Out Ceremony

This festival is held every year on July 24th. It is an event based on the legendary “Kusedo-engi*” that remains in Chionji Temple. This event includes “Mando-e” (a Buddhist ceremony), in which numerous lights are lit as offerings to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in repentance for the sins of all living beings and in prayer for their salvation. The lanterns are raised at night near the shore that’s close to Chion-ji Temple and the Amanohashidate canal is illuminated. The festival reaches its climax with many fireworks set off. This time of year, the hotels near the venue accept reservations of Fireworks Viewing Boat Tours operated by us. Please make a reservation if you are interested. You can enjoy the fireworks from the sea on this unique tour!

Miyazu Toro Nagashi
Fireworks Festival

In Miyazu City, Kyoto Prefecture, Miyazu Toro Nagashi Fireworks Festival, one of Japan’s three major floating lanterns, is held every year on August 16th. Toro nagashi is a Japanese ceremony during the Bon festival in which participants float paper lanterns down a river or sea. It is one of the Buddhist events also called “Obon”. In Buddhism, it is believed that the spirits of family ancestors come back to this world during “Obon” period between July and August, and a series of events take place to welcome them. We send ancestors’ spirits off by releasing lighted lanterns to the sea. Lanterns on the water escort their spirits back to the after world. This traditional event has been passed down since the Edo period and took its current form in 1924. It is considered to have its origin in that the offering goods were accompanied by small lights and shed into the sea to send the spirits of the ancestors welcomed during the Obon to Gokuraku Jodo (Sukhāvatī) again. The boats called Shorobune are also put to sea by people who lost a family member within a year. They are decorated with bon-lanterns and imitation flowers and are believed to hold the spirits of the deceased on board.

Ine Fireworks Festival

‘Ine Fireworks Festival’ is a feature in Ine town during summer. It is held every year on the last Saturday in August. The colorful fireworks illuminate Funaya boat houses that stand lined up along the bay fantastically. The local people watching the fireworks from Funaya boat houses gives big cheers when they are launched from the middle of Ine bay. It looks like a dream with so many fireworks shining in the majestic Sumi-toned sky like large, glittering flowers. Please appreciate the beautiful reflections of the fireworks light on a tranquil sea at night to the fullest.
On the day, you can also enjoy the movie projected on an overwater screen floating between the bay and the sky, or the stalls using local ingredients.

Note; The image for illustrative purposes only.