Nara Tokae Lantern Festival 2024

The “Nara Tokae” (Nara Lantern Festival) is an annual event held for ten days in early August in Nara City, particularly in the Nara Park area, using candles for illumination.

 

Overview:

The term “Toka” refers to the flower-like shape formed at the tip of a candle wick, and the festival is named “Toka-e” because of the auspicious significance associated with these candle flowers in Buddhism. Throughout the event, the entire Nara Park, surrounded by World Heritage sites, is adorned with rows of candles, creating a fantastical and mysterious atmosphere. The festival has become a summer tradition in Nara.

Initially, the festival used around 10,000 candles per day, but the number has increased over the years. In 2007, approximately 20,000 candles were used daily. While the main event takes place in specific areas, various neighborhoods and shopping districts in Nara City independently organize their own lantern festivals during this period. In 2007, the festival expanded to a total of 20 locations.

Since its inaugural event in 1999, the number of visitors has steadily increased, and in recent years, it has grown into a major summer event with around 900,000 attendees per year.

 

 

 

 

Event Summary

Todaiji Temple

Period
August 3 to August 12, 2024

Official Web：Click Here