Every summer, Takahata Town in Yamagata Prefecture hosts the Green Bamboo Lantern Festival, a long-running event that began as a way to welcome and escort the local mikoshi (a portable Shinto shrine carried through the streets during festivals) from Hachiman Shrine. The festival started when residents decorated their homes and streets with green bamboo lanterns, and it has since grown into one of the town's main annual gatherings, drawing tens of thousands of visitors.
The festival takes place around the town center and typically features a mikoshi parade, a folk dance procession, and rows of lanterns lining the roads. In recent years, organizers have also introduced modern elements, including drone light displays, which project images and messages into the night sky. The aim is to add a new visual highlight while keeping the core of the festival intact.
This mix of tradition and newer technology reflects a broader effort to sustain the event as the town faces an aging population and fewer young people getting involved in festival preparations. By refreshing the format and attracting more visitors from outside the area, Takahata hopes to keep the festival relevant for future generations.
For visitors, the Green Bamboo Lantern Festival offers a chance to experience a regional matsuri that feels rooted in everyday community life rather than large-scale commercial tourism. Takahata itself is known for its agricultural products, including grapes, rice, beef, sake, and wine, making it an easy destination to pair with food and local sightseeing.
If you're interested in seeing how a small town balances tradition with change, this festival is worth keeping on your summer calendar.
