Celebrating Tōrō Nagashi, Japan’s floating lanterns that guide the departed
By Carl Samson
July 31, 2023
As the Japanese festival of Obon — or simply Bon — comes to a close, observers partake in a ceremony that some appear to celebrate as another festival on its own: Tōrō Nagashi.
What it is: Tōrō Nagashi, which literally translates to “lantern cruises,” is traditionally performed on the final evening of the Obon festival. True to its name, the practice involves floating lanterns along rivers or other streams of water in honor of loved ones who have passed away.
Obon is believed to be the time when the veil between the spirit and human worlds is at its thinnest, thus allowing those from the former to make crossovers. Through Tōrō Nagashi, the living peacefully guide the departed on their way back to the spirit world.
Variations in celebration: The observance of Tōrō Nagashi varies across Japan. Some areas do not float lanterns at all, particularly those with local governments that prohibit the discharge of lanterns on water sources.
Still, some observe Tōrō Nagashi as the Festival of Recovery, commemorating Japan’s rebirth after the U.S. bombings in World War II. Hiroshima, one of Japan’s two cities to suffer from the nuclear attacks, is among those that hold bigger Tōrō Nagashi events, floating some 10,000 lanterns each year.
U.S. events to watch out for: Tōrō Nagashi has no fixed date, but it typically takes place sometime in the last days of Obon, which can be in July or August. Those in the U.S. can participate in several upcoming locations, which can be seen below:
- Tōrō Nagashi Festival at the Japanese Friendship Garden in San Diego — Aug. 11, Aug. 12.
- Tōrō Nagashi Lantern Ceremony at the Garden of the Phoenix in Chicago’s Jackson Park — Aug. 16.
- Tōrō Nagashi Lantern Floating Ceremony at the Hakone Estate and Gardens in Saratoga, California — Aug. 15, Aug. 16.
- Tōrō Nagashi at O-Bon / The Spirit Festival at the Portland Japanese Garden in Portland, Oregon — Aug. 19, Aug. 20.
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