(Photo courtesy of Yanai Tourism Association)
On the southern coast of Yamaguchi Prefecture, Yanai thrived as a merchant town during Japan’s Feudal Age. Its heritage is preserved in the city center “Shirakabe no Michi” streets lined with historical wooden homes and paper-covered windows.
A visit to this stunning town is great any time of year, but in the summer, floating lanterns shaped and painted like goldfish hanging from the building eaves draw crowds to Yanai’s white-walled streets.
The scenic city is a short 50-minute drive from MCAS Iwakuni and will host its annual “Kingyo Chochin Matsuri” (goldfish lantern festival) on Aug. 13.
A step into Yanai is a step back in time and the paper goldfish lanterns add to the old Japan atmosphere. Goldfish are the symbol of Yanai and paper lanterns are the local craft. One of the favorite summer activities is to make bamboo and paper lanterns for the children participating in the festival.
(Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi/Stripes Japan)
(Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi/Stripes Japan)
(Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi/Stripes Japan)
(Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi/Stripes Japan)
(Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi/Stripes Japan)
(Photo courtesy of Yanai Tourism Association)
(Photo courtesy of Yanai Tourism Association)
During the summer festival, locals in traditional matsuri attire carry and parade nearly 30 illuminated giant goldfish lantern floats painted by hand. The parade route heads down Shirakabe no Michi which is also decorated with 2,500 smaller goldfish lanterns.
This year, several Hirosaki Neputa lantern floats from Aomori Prefecture, the home of Misawa Air Base, will also join the parade. Spectators can see these impressive lanterns from 4:30 to 5 p.m. and from 8:30 to 9 p.m.
The Yanai goldfish will parade from 5:25 to 8:30 p.m.
While the parade winds through the streets, you can enjoy traditional dancing and music at the main festival site near JR Yanai Station.
Sample Japanese festival foods like yakisoba, yakitori, okonomiyaki, kakigoori shaved ice, cold beer and soft drinks. People can also enjoy traditional Japanese games, including kingyo-sukui (goldfish scooping) and shateki, a shooting game.
Can’t make it to the festival? Don’t worry, the hanging goldfish lanterns along the shirakabe no michi are illuminated nightly from 7 to 10 p.m. through the end of August.
Enjoy Yanai’s local tradition and take a step back in time this summer season!
VIEW VIDEO (Yanai and the goldfish lanterns): https://japan.stripes.com/travel/video-catch-the-iconic-goldfish-lanterns-on-yanai%E2%80%99s-white-walled-historic-street.html
Yanai Goldfish Lantern Festival
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Location: Shirakabe-no-michi, Yanai City, Yamaguchi Prefecture
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Hours: Aug. 13, 4:30 – 9 p.m.
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Hirosaki Neputa lantern floats procession 4:30 – 5 p.m. and 8:30 – 9 p.m.
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Yanai Gooldfish lantern floats procession 5:25 – 8:30 p.m.
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*The Yanai Shirakabe Street is illuminated until Aug. 31, 7 – 10 p.m.
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Admission: Free
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Website: https://www.city-yanai.jp/site/kanko/kingyomatsuri.html
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Phone: 0470-80-1146 (Yanai Tourist Association)
(Photo courtesy of Yanai Tourism Association)