Lantern Festival at Chidorigafuchi

There is a myriad of great summer festivals to enjoy in Tokyo, and one of the prettiest has to be the Chidorigafuchi Moat Lantern Festival. With a history dating back to 1958, the event sees around 2000 gentle lantern lights decorate the water’s surface, and there are several ways for visitors to take part.

Photo: Chiyoda Ward Tourism Association
The most budget-friendly option is simply enjoying a stroll around the moat and appreciating the lanterns from a distance, which won’t cost you a single yen. Alternatively, you can write your own wishes or prayers on a lantern to be released on the water (¥ 1000 per lantern).

Photo: Chiyoda Ward Tourism Association
There’s also the opportunity for a select number of people to enjoy the lanterns from a unique vantage point–by rowboat on the moat. The selection process for this is done via a lottery system and is limited to 80 groups per day and a maximum of three people per group. The lottery applications will go live on the official website from June 20th – don’t fret if you get a 404 Page Not Found before that date!

Photo: Chiyoda Ward Tourism Association