Hamamatsu Lantern

A hands-on lantern event will be held at Hamamatsu Castle Park in Hamamatsu City on two dates this summer: Saturday 18 July and Saturday 29 August. Participants are invited to raise lanterns into the night sky above the castle grounds.

Rather than traditional paper sky lanterns lit by an open flame, the event uses a flameless LED type. The lanterns are buoyed by helium gas and attached to a string so they can be recovered after launch, an approach the organisers describe as balancing safety with environmental responsibility.

On 18 July, reception opens at 18:45 with the launch scheduled for 19:45. On 29 August, reception opens at 18:00 with the launch scheduled for 19:00. Both take place on the central lawn plaza of Hamamatsu Castle Park. Pricing starts at 4,980 yen for admission of up to four people with one lantern, and from 7,980 yen for up to six people with two lanterns. Advance tickets are on sale through the official ticket site.