Yamaga Lantern Dance Festival – Yamaga Toro Matsuri 山鹿吐露祭 in Japanese, is held on the evenings of August 15th and 16th in the city of Yamaga every year. The highlight is the One Thousand Lantern Dance when hundreds of women, dressed in simple white summer yukata and red obi sashes dance elegantly through the night wearing beautifully crafted paper illuminated lanterns on their heads.
The origins of the festival come from an ancient story which tells how the Yamaga villagers helped the legendary Emperor Keiko (71 to 130 AD)and his followers who were lost in the middle of the fog by holding lighted pine torches in their hands to lead the way.
August 15 Saturday
Dedication of the Lanterns Dance from 18:30 at Omiya Shrine
Firework display 20:00 to 21:00 Kikuchi Riverside
- August 16 Sunday
Ancient Emperor Welcoming Ceremony from 19:30 at the Kikuchi riverside
Taimatsu Traditional Parade 20:00 to 21:15 from Kikuchi River to Yamaga Elementary School
Thousand-Lantern Dance 21:00 to 22:00 Yamaga Elementary School Ground
Presenting the Lanterns to the Omiya Shrine from 22:00
In the days leading up to the festival large and amazingly intricate paper models of famous Japanese buildings are displayed around the town at the end of the festival they are presented as offerings to the Omiya Shrine along with the paper lanterns. The dancing takes place over 2 nights on the second day of the festival, the 1000 women dance slowly with their colorful lanterns on their heads singing traditional songs. The main tune is the Yoheho – literally ‘Let’s all get drunk!’. It is said that people started using paper lanterns instead of torches during the Muromachi Era. On the other side men in traditional dress will perform as if they are welcoming the Emperor in a line with flaming torches in their hands. On the evening of the fifteenth, thousands of fireworks light up the sky at the Kikuchigawa River Terrace.
Special bus services to Yamaga from Kumamoto City Main Bus Station are run by Kyushu Sanko during the festival. There are also free shuttle buses the festival grounds.
By car take Route 3 to the North, Yamaga is about 30km from Kumamoto City. Expect roads to be busy.
Travel Advice
Go early and visit the Yamaga Lantern Museum and Yachiyoza Theatre or enjoy the traditional onsen.
Explore Kumamoto can provide you with a guide and transport on request. Contact us for more information.
Link to the Festival Site in English