Festivals

Seasonal illuminations are a big deal in Japan. From the famous Kobe Luminarie, donated by the Italian government following the Great Hanshin Earthquake, to light festivals in Osaka, Sendai, Nagoya, and elsewhere, a chilly stroll through enchanting colored lights has become a prominent feature of winter in Japan. Hiroshima is no exception. In and around the city, there are many displays, all worth a look. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 restrictions, a few of the other illumination events that we usually see around Hiroshima have been called off this year – including the Fukuyama Akari Festival and the Miroku no Sato illuminations and fireworks. However, there are a few places that you still enjoy the lights as you wander around, wrapped up against the winter chill. Here are a few of your options. Hiroshima Dreamination Launched in 2002, this festival stretches along Peace Boulevard and has grown steadily from year to year until today. Organizers say there are a million and a half lights included in the display. The festival is hosted by the Hiroshima Light-Up Project, with corporate sponsorship from most of the city’s major broadcasters, including NHK Hiroshima, Hiroshima FM, and the Chugoku Shimbun. There have been “stories,” though…