Mizuakari Festival in Kumamoto [Closed]

54,000 lights create a fantastic night festival

Justin Velgus Feb 10, 2015 - 1 min read

<p>Hanabata Park. The park's large central tree has also been lit up for the evening.</p>

<p>During October, evenings here are neither hot nor cold, and the breeze is pleasant</p>

<p>Illuminated bamboo lanterns have personal wishes written on them</p>

<p>Near Karashima Park. Around the fountain, handmade paper lanterns illuminate the night</p>

<p>One by one, the lanterns barely produce a glow, but put them together and they create a dynamic display</p>

<p>Long lines of towering lit up bamboo poles stretch all the way lit up Kumamoto Castle in the distance</p>

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Last updated: Sep 16, 2020

Every year in October the Mizuakari Festival brightens the night with 54,000 lights lining Kumamoto City's Sakura-machi to Karashima Park.

Along both sides of the street, bamboo poles with varying patterns, resembling Australian aboriginal designs are placed into small holes. The lit up bamboo columns stretch continuously all the way to illuminate Kumamoto Castle.

Elementary and junior high schools also participate and the students' lanterns enhance the beauty of the festival. Their messages on some of the lanterns were so funny that some visitors burst out laughing.

In front of and around Kotsu Center tents are selling foods such as yakitori (grilled chicken skewers) and okonomiyaki (savory pancakes with various ingredients).

2015 Report

I was amazed at today's youth writing haiku poetry, with words such as spirit (魂) and peace (平和). Seeing these made me recall my memories of arts and crafts class during my elementary school years.

Justin Velgus @justin.velgus

Justin Velgus (ジャスティンベルガス) is the Miyagi Prefecture expert for Japan Travel and a long-term contributor since 2012 with a focus on the Tohoku region. Justin has written extensively for JT, and other publications such as VisitMiyagi and Sake Today, amassing over 350 published articles...