Fukui

The Floating Lanterns of Eiheiji

Floating Lanterns as a Memorial to Those Who Have Passed Away

Each August, the Floating Lanterns of Eiheiji serve as a memorial to those who have passed away: summer in Japan brings O-bon, when the souls of the dead come closest to the world of the living. The evening begins with the reading of a Buddhist sutra and the names of people to be remembered. Then, some 10,000 lanterns are floated down the Kuzuryu River, in a traditional Japanese ritual of mourning.

Each year, this event draws many people from the local community, both for the religious ceremony and for the magical scenery. The lanterns are dedicated to the memories of specific people, as well as to personal wishes for the future.