[Updated June 10, 2024] What is the Kihoku Lantern Festival 2024? Do I need a ticket? We'll give you a thorough explanation of the dates and highlights of the Kihoku Lantern Festival 2024!

▼Table of contents

• What is the Kihoku Lantern Festival?
• History of Kihoku Toro Festival
• Highlights of the Kihoku Lantern Festival 2024
• The sea nebuta “Great Toro” made by the townspeople
• Sea peacocks “fireworks” color the night sky
• A variety of “stage events”
• Are tickets available to watch the fireworks?
• Will there be food stalls?
• Are there toilets at the venue?
• About access, parking, and traffic regulations
• Access by public transportation
• Access by car
• About parking lot
• About traffic regulations

What is the Kihoku Lantern Festival?

↑Tourism in Mie 62nd Photo Contest Grand Prix Winner

The Kihoku Lantern Festival is a major summer event held once a year in Kihoku KihokuTown, located in the Higashikishu area of HigashiKishu Prefecture.

At the Kihoku Toro Festival, various events are held including stage events by local people. Of particular interest are the large lanterns, which are made by the townspeople working together, and the colorful fireworks. Each of them is worth seeing, but the combination of the ``large lantern'' and ``fireworks'' can be said to be synonymous with the Kihoku Toro Festival!

In the next chapter, we will introduce in detail the history and highlights of the festival that the townspeople have continued to protect.

Event overview

・This year's theme: ~20th anniversary of Kumano Kodo World Heritage registration~

Venue: nagashima Fishing Port, Kihoku KihokuTown (Nagashima KihokuTown, Kitamuro District, nagashima Prefecture)

・Date: Saturday, July 27, 2024

Stage event: 17:00-20:00 (tentative)

Fireworks: 20:00-21:00 (tentative)

History of Kihoku Toro Festival

The Kihoku Toro Festival began in 1928 when the Young Men's Group floated hundreds of bird-shaped lanterns as part of the Akabane River opening event in the former nagashima town.

At that time, it was widely known throughout the country as a summer tradition in HigashiKishu, but due to reasons such as an exodus of young people and a lack of funding, it was finally discontinued in 1974 (Showa 49).

Time passes in 1987 (Showa 62). Young people, mainly from the youth division of the local Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stood up and asked, ``What is something we can be proud of to the nation?'' Their passion for the future of the town and the revival of tradition led to the revival of the Toro Festival. The large lantern that was created was over 35 meters long, and it was revived for the first time in 13 years with an even more splendid appearance.

The photo above is the first large lantern "Ryu" after its revival! The powerful dragon's appearance conveys the power of ``From now on, we will continue to liven up KihokuTown through the festival!''

This year marks the 37th year since the lantern festival was revived. The festival has continued to this day thanks to the cooperation of many people, especially local residents.

The combination of the Saiun Kujaku fireworks, which can only be seen at the Kihoku Toro Festival, and the large lanterns floating on the sea has become synonymous with the festival.
In 2022, a photo posted on Twitter of the Kihoku Toro Festival fireworks attracted more than 14,000 likes, attracting attention.
(In the photo above, the 2017 large lantern ``Peacock'' with its spread wings is stunning!)

Highlights of the Kihoku Lantern Festival 2024

The Kihoku Toro Festival is a festival in which local people actively plan and participate, and people from various positions work together to create it, including partnerships with the government and cooperation with local businesses.

The large lanterns produced every year are based on the main characters of folk tales and lucky charms passed down in the town. Many people of all ages, men and women, work together to create this event, centered around the members of the executive committee.

In addition, nursery schools, kindergartens, elementary schools, and junior high schools in the town make box-shaped lanterns, and the festival has developed into an experience-based and interaction-based festival where everyone can create together.

Here we will introduce three highlights of the Kihoku Toro Festival.

The sea nebuta “Great Toro” made by the townspeople

↑The large lantern for 2023, "Fukuro" (Lucky Owl)

We make large lanterns based on a theme every year. On the day of the festival, you can enjoy a spectacular display of large lanterns floating on the sea, and fireworks up close.

This year marks the 36th time the large lantern has been revived, and the one we will be making is the "Oguchi Makami" lantern.
It is a deification of the Japanese wolf, which is said to have inhabited the Kumano Kodo trail. In the midst of continuing uncertainty due to the Ishikawa Noto Peninsula earthquake that occurred on New Year's Day this year and the Nankai Trough earthquake that is expected to occur in the near future, it will be created as a guardian deity that will forever protect the peace and safety of KihokuTown.

Production of the large lantern will begin in May. It's not made by professionals. People from all walks of life, from children to the elderly, come together to create large lanterns by combining their knowledge and skills. Please come to the venue and see the large lanterns filled with everyone's thoughts floating on the sea and shining brightly.

■Large lantern "Oguchi Makami" (image is for illustrative purposes only)
- Size: Height 7.6m
Weight: 1t
・Light bulbs: 300
Just by looking at the numbers, you can tell that the lantern is quite large. The theme will be decided around January or February of the year. After that, drawings were designed and materials were ordered, and production finally began in May, and the large lantern took about six months to take shape.

When you know about this process and look at it, it's moving to see a large lantern floating with the thoughts of many people on it.

Sea peacocks “fireworks” color the night sky

Approximately 3,000 fireworks are launched at the Kihoku Toro Festival, and the most notable is the fireworks program called ``Saiun Kujaku,'' which takes advantage of the topography of nagashima Port, where the fireworks are launched. The biggest highlight of the Kihoku Toro Festival is the performance of the large ``Sea Nebuta'' lanterns majestically moving across the sea and the Saiun Peacock.

The fireworks program for the Kihoku Toro Festival is created by members of the Fireworks Room of the Toro Festival Executive Committee. They are in charge of everything related to fireworks, including the colors and composition of the fireworks, and create programs.

*There are no paid seats or admission tickets for the fireworks. Admission is free.
*It is essential to reserve your spot early!

Are tickets available to watch the fireworks?

As of 2024, there are no paid seats available for viewing the Kihoku Lantern Festival, so no tickets are on sale.
Everyone can watch it for free. However, we recommend that you get there early to secure a spot.

A variety of “stage events”

On the day, stage events and experience events will be held at the venue. Last year's events were as follows:
●Stage Events
● Experience events

Be sure to make memories of the festival♪

More details about this year's event will be added as they become available.

Will there be food stalls?

​There will be food stalls at the 2024 Kihoku Lantern Festival.
Local businesses and local craftsmen are expected to set up stalls. We will add more information as soon as we know the number of stores!

Are there toilets at the venue?

Temporary toilets for general use will be installed at the venue.

About access, parking, and traffic regulations

The venue is nagashima Port in nagashima, KihokuTown.

Access by public transportation

Approximately 15 minutes walk from nagashima Station on the JR Kisei Line
(This is a stop for the limited express Nanki, but the frequency is small, so please leave plenty of time for your trip!)

・About 2 hours from Nagoya
・About 1 hour from Tsu
・About 1 hour from Ise

Access by car

About 10 minutes by car from Kii nagashima IC on the Kisei Expressway

・About 2 hours from Nagoya
・About 1 hour from Tsu
・About 1 hour from Ise

About parking lot

・Parking will be available outside the venue (fees have yet to be determined)

*There is no parking lot at the venue.

About traffic regulations

This is not decided yet, so I will update as soon as I know!

How was it

What did you think? In this article, we have explained about the Kihoku Lantern Festival 2024, a major event that will light up the summer sea in KihokuTown, Mie Prefecture.

As I was writing this article, I felt that the festival was made up of the local people's passionate desire to liven up KihokuTown.

The biggest highlights, the collaboration between the Sea Nebuta "Large Lantern" and the Sea Peacock "Fireworks", are definitely worth seeing! Why not take this opportunity to make some summer memories at the Kihoku Lantern Festival 2024, which is filled with the feelings of the people of KihokuTown?

[Inquiries regarding the Kihoku Lantern Festival]
KihokuTown Toro Festival Executive Committee (inside Fureai Plaza “Mandoro”)
TEL080-8705-2612 FAX050-3488-1769

E-mail kihokutourou@gmail.com
Homepage https://www.touroumaturi.com/