Nara Lantern Festival: A Complete Guide to Japanโs Magical Celebration
Traveling to Japan in the summer can be brutal - truthfully it's not the best time to visit Japan. The silver lining though? You can experience some incredible festivals! One of our favorites was the Nara Lantern Festival, one of the most magical events in the country, bringing thousands of glowing lanterns to the ancient city each year.ย
Set against the backdrop of historic temples and serene gardens, this festival creates a dreamlike atmosphere that captures the spirit of Japanese tradition and spirituality.
Whether youโre drawn by the breathtaking visuals, the cultural significance, or the peaceful ambiance, visiting the Nara Lantern Festival is an experience that belongs on every travelerโs Japan itinerary - and we're here to share all of the details for you.
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Nara Lantern Festival: A Brief Intro
When we tried learning about the Nara Lantern Festival, it was difficult to really get a lot of detailed information, especially in English! That's why we're going to give you all the info you need. First, let's look learn a bit about what to expect at the festival.
ย What is the Nara Lantern Festival all About?
Every August, the ancient city of Nara glows with the warm light of thousands of lanterns during the Nara Lantern Festival. Known locally as the Nara Tokae Festival, this event transforms Nara Park and its historic temples into a dreamy landscape filled with flickering lights.
There are all types of lantern festivals in Japan - some where lanterns drift through the sky and some where the float along the river. The Nara Lantern Festival is more of a festival where you can see parks full of lanterns, have loads of street food, and experience special events like live music and lantern boat rides.
The Nara Lantern is different than other lantern festivals, but is equally special.
History of the Nara Lantern Festival
The Nara Lantern festival began in 1999 as a way to celebrate peace and harmony, and has since become one of the most anticipated summer events in Japan. Set against the backdrop of UNESCO World Heritage temples and the famous free-roaming deer, the Nara Lantern Festival is as spiritual as it is beautiful.
ย When is the Nara Lantern Festival?
The lantern festival in Nara happens every August, for a period of 10 days. In 2025, the dates for the event were from August 5th-14th. We will update the 2026 dates whenever we get them, but you can expect it to be around the same time.
Where is the Nara Lantern Festival?
The Nara Lantern Festival happens across the city of Nara, particularly around the deer park. There are multiple locations for experiencing specific events, and some that open specifically for certain dates.
Some of the locations that have events at them include:
- Nara National Museum
- Ukimido Venue
- Sarasuwaike Venue + Sarasuwa Pond
- Gojunidan Venue
- Asajigahara Venue
- Kofukuji Venue
- Ukigumoenchi Venue
- Sagi Pond (for the boat rides)
- Todaiji Jagame-ike Venue (only the last couple of days)
- Kusaga Taisha Prayer Passage Venue (only the last day of the festival)
We recommend saving these pins in your map so you don't miss out! Keep in mind venues may change year to year, and you should pick up a booklet with the up-to-date locations and dates for each one.
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How to Get to Nara, Japan
Now that you have an idea of where the festival is located, let's look at the different ways to get you to the city of Nara.
ย Where to Fly to Visit Nara, Japan
The closest airports to Nara are Osaka International Airport, which is 45 km away, and Kansai International Airport, which is 74 km away from the city of Nara.
If you are coming from outside of Japan, the most affordable flights typically go to Tokyo. Tokyo is not really close to Nara, but there are a few ways you can reach Nara from Japan's capital.
Flight Tip:ย Using Skyscanner you can put from "your city" to "Japan". This way you can see which is the cheapest airport near Nara to fly. Also, you can check the calendar to see which are the cheapest dates for flying to Japan.
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How to Get to Nara from Other Japanese Cities
You can get to Nara from Osaka or Kyoto by Shinkansen (the fast train), by bus, or by using the local metros, which is the most affordable option.
If you come from Osaka or Kyoto you can take the metro to Nara.
If you're traveling from Tokyo, the easiest options are to take the Shinkansen or the overnight bus with Willer. Both are pretty pricey, so if you have the budget for it you're probably better off just going with the Shinkansen to save time.
The perk of the bus is that you save money on accommodation - it was pretty spacious, but the seats don't lay down so it can be hard to sleep though.
Nara Lantern Festival Prices & Times
The Nara Lantern Festival lasts 10 full days, and happens each night during this period, giving you plenty of days to enjoy it! It's really budget-friendly, making it accessible and enjoyable for all types of travelers.
Don't have time to read the whole article and want to save it for later? Just pin it!
ย Prices for Nara Lantern Festival
One thing we loved about the lantern festival in Nara was that you can easily enjoy the festival free of charge! There was only one ticket that we had to pay for, and it was for the Kusaga Taisha Prayer Passage Venue on the final night. The entrance was 700 yen/person, and we also purchased a paper lantern for 800.
Boat rides are 1,500 yen for a 20 minute ride. The line for this cuts off quite early, so make sure to head there before 8:30 to make sure you grab a spot!
Most things at the lantern festival can only be paid in cash, so make sure to bring plenty with you! ATMS can be found in town at many pharmacies or convenience stores.
You can buy your own lanterns for 800 yen.
ย Timetable for the Lantern Festival in Nara
The lantern festival's festivities start every night at 7 pm and go until 9:30 pm. Once it hits 9:30 the lanterns are blown out. The areas themselves are open to walk around, but of course there isn't much to stick around for after. A few areas will also turn their lights off around 9:00, so it's important to check the information pamphlet.
Some food stalls will stay open a bit past 9:30, but really by 10:00 pretty much everything is shut down.
The lights stay on until 9:30 pm in most areas.
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Nara Lantern Festival: Food & Facilities
Now that you know what to expect in terms of prices, times, and getting there, we're going to share some things you'll want to know about the food, drinks, and facilities offered at the festival.
Food at Nara's Lantern Festival
One of the best parts of traveling in Japan is enjoying the food, and there really is no shortage of great food in Nara. Not only are there fantastic restaurants, but there are several streets at the Nara Lantern Festival that are lined with street food stalls.
From Wagyu beef skewers to candied fruit, there are incredible treats to try that reflect the local specialties. Make sure to save some room for the festival's variety of food options, and carry plenty of cash with you!
There are a ton of food stalls at Nara Tokae Festival.
ย Seating
Something we noticed about Japan is that they don't offer a ton of places to sit or eat. With a lot of walking and little to no benches and tables, we'd highly recommend a blanket to lay down on the grass to you have somewhere to relax a bit.
Bathrooms at the Nara Lantern Festival
Nara has several public bathrooms scattered around the park areas and city, and also has some in the main information points. There is always soap and toilet paper, and bathrooms are free of charge to use.
Trash Cans in Nara
If you haven't visited Japan before, then you're in for quite the surprise. It's totally immaculate, and yet, hardly has a trash can ever in sight! Many people actually bring bags with them to carry around their trash. Luckily though, during the festival you can find big trash bags next to the food stalls.
There aren't a TON of them, but if you're looking for a place to throw something out then these streets are the answer.
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Nara Lantern Festival: Events & What to Expect
So are you ready to experience the Nara Tokae Festival? You know all about where to go, when things are happening, and what to expect in terms of facilities. Now, let's explore all of the fun that the festival has to offer!
Highlights of the Nara Lantern Festival
Now that you know all of the basic info for attending the Nara Tokae Festival, let's look at what the main things to see and do at the Nara lantern festival are!
The Fields of Candles
The main aspect of the festival are the fields of lights. Large grassy fields turn to twinkling displays and lakes are surrounded by lanterns highlighting their beauty.ย
There are various fields of candles to discover, with routes to walk through. You can walk throught the candles themselves - just make sure to not knock any over as they are all lit by real flames!
There are a lot of areas lit up by candles during the festival.
ย The Food Stalls
One of the best parts of the festival is that there are tons of food stalls! You'll find several streets that surround the main grounds, all with different options to choose from. Again, don't forget your cash and a big appetite so you can chow down on all of the local specialties!
Boat Rides at Sarasuwa Pond
Sarasuwa pond is definitely one of the most magical places to experience during Nara Tokae Festival. It will bring all of your Disney dreams alive with the beautiful boats paddling around the waters with lanterns attached to them.
Rides are 1,500 yen and are 20 minutes. Make sure to get there super early, because the line typically is cut off at least 30 (sometimes 60) minutes before closing time!
There are some beautiful views that you can appreciate above the canyon.
Kusaga Taisha Prayer Passage Venue
The last night of the Nara lantern festival is certainly the most magical. Thousands of people head to the Kusaga Taisha shrine for a special visit of the grounds covered in lanterns. You can see a concert on site, and also buy your own lantern to carry around with you.
The entrance to the shrine is a special experience, and is a ticketed one, which is 700 yen/person. We recommend getting there early to arrive before the lines get crazy.
Kusaga Taisha Prayer Passage Venue is only available to visit the last night.
Things to Do in Nara During the Day
Being that the lantern festival takes place at night, you'll want to enjoy other things to do in Nara during the day! Here are a few of the highlights of the city:
ย Watch the famous mochi-pounding demonstration
ย Browse the shops of the commercial street
ย Enjoy the bowing deer
ย Explore the temples
ย Stroll the gardens
ย Visit the Nara National Museum
ย Watch the sunset from Wakakuayama Hill
Want to know all of the great things to do in Nara? We have a full guide coming up next week!
There are plenty of ways to enjoy Nara during the day before the lantern festival.
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Tips for Visiting Nara Lantern Festival
Now you know what to expect at the Nara Lantern Festival. Here are some tips to make your visit ideal.
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Other Things to Keep in Mind for Attending the Nara Lantern Festival
Now you know almost everything you to for attending the Lantern Festival of Nara! But here are a few final things to keep in mind.
ย Weather in Nara in August
Japan in the summer is unbearably hot. It's really humid, and the temperatures stay high even at night time. We'd recommend dressing as lightly as possible, always carry ice water, and invest in a fan, cooling neck ring, or any other objects that will help you beat the heat.
Nara is extremely hot in August.
ย Where to Stay in Nara
The best area to stay in Nara is as close to the deer park as possible. For a great budget-friendly option, we stayed at Nara deer hostel. It was about 15-20 minutes walking from the main areas of the lantern festival, and it was also not too far from the train station.
How to Prepare for the Nara Lantern Festival
Here are some of the things we recommend bringing with you to the Nara Lantern Festival:
- Insulated water bottle (to have cold water at all times)
- Fan (we recommend a battery-powered one)
- Sunscreen (although you'll see most people with umbrellas)
- Towel to sit on
- Comfortable shoes to walk around
- Light clothing (many people use kimonos but we opted not to because o the heat)
- Mirrorless Cameraย (We use theย Sony Alpha 7riii_
- Wide Lens for capturing wide views of the fields of lanterns (We use the Sony GM 14"ย which is good for capturing a lot of light)
- Cash (many places don't accept credit card)
*Tripods and drones are not allowed at the festival, but you can use them during the day.
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Is it Worth Going to the Nara Lantern Festival?
While the lantern festival in Nara didn't have the floating lanterns like we were imagining (apaprently you can see them in Osaka), we did really enjoy our time in Nara, and felt that the festival was absolutely worth visiting.ย
Japan is certainly more ideal to experience during cherry blossom season in the spring, or for the colorful leaves in the fall, but having the lantern festivals made us so happy that we did end up visiting in the summer!
There are some beautiful views that you can appreciate above the canyon.
ย Time Needed for the Nara Lantern Festival
Originally we were going to spend just one day in Nara, exploring the city's highlights during the day, and the lantern festival at night. We're so glad ended up spending two nights instead, as it really allowed us to see much more of the festivities.
As the lanterns are only lit for 2 1/2 hours, it's difficult to see and truly enjoy every area of Nara Tokae Festival in one night, so we'd highly recommend 2-3, and to visit at the end, when you can experience the two most special nights.
If you only have one day though, it is absolutely still worth it to go, even if it's one night!
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So are you ready to experience the magical lantern festival of Nara, Japan? This is definitely one of the events to put on your bucket list, and we hope you love this special experience!
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