Go see a festival beautiful with lanterns. Comparing the lights of the Akita Kanto Festival, Chichibu Night Festival, and Kishiwada

Photos of festivals lit by lanterns make you want to wander through town at night. Even lanterns create different impressions depending on whether they are held high, surround a festival float, or move slowly along the street. This article compares the nights of the Akita Kanto Festival, Chichibu Night Festival, and Kishiwada Danjiri Festival by focusing on what to look for.

Akita Kanto: See the shape of the lights and the skill of those supporting them

At the Akita Kanto Festival, the Kanto, with its rows of lanterns, is likened to an ear of rice. The same cluster of lights takes on a different appearance as the balancers change where they support it. Look not only at the full display of lights, but also shift your gaze to the points of support, such as the hands, shoulders, and hips. (Akita Kanto Festival official site, “About the Kanto Festival”）

Rather than framing only the row of lights for a photo, look at the balancers and Kanto together to see how people support it. If you plan to watch at night, check the performance times, viewing areas, and return transportation together.

Chichibu Night Festival: Enjoy the floats and the depth of the townscape

The Chichibu Night Festival is the annual grand festival of Chichibu Shrine, with kasaboko floats and festival floats among its highlights. The lanterns make a stronger impression when viewed together with the floats’ structures and decorations. After looking up at the brilliant displays, turn your attention to the people pulling the floats and the surrounding streetscape to get a sense of the festival’s scale. (Chichibu Shrine, “Chichibu Night Festival”）

Rather than walking continuously to chase the scenes you want to see, choose a viewing spot and allow time to wait there. As this is a winter festival at night, prepare clothing that will keep you comfortable through the evening, along with rest breaks and a plan for getting home. Keep in mind that there may be crowds and restrictions around the venue, and avoid planning a transfer that leaves you just enough time to make it at the very end.

Kishiwada: Enjoy the contrast with the daytime

The city says that Kishiwada’s danjiri floats are pulled slowly at night with lanterns attached, unlike the yarimawashi turns performed during the day. Those with a strong impression of the daytime scenes may notice the difference in how the floats look after the lanterns are lit. (Kishiwada City, “Danjiri Festival: Lantern-Lit Procession”）

If you plan to see both the daytime and nighttime events, we recommend taking a break partway through the afternoon, then returning for the time when the lanterns are lit. Taking photos from the same spot can make comparisons easier, but please follow pedestrian and viewing restrictions, and don’t make your goal to keep a spot reserved.

Comparison table for finding festivals with lanterns

Favorite scene	Festival to explore	What to look for
Lights swaying high above	Akita Kanto Festival	The relationship between the Kanto and its balancers
Lights illuminating the craftsmanship	Chichibu Night Festival	Float decorations and townscape
Lights moving slowly along the street	Kishiwada’s lantern-lit procession	Differences between the daytime and nighttime scenes

Nighttime photos may look bright, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be able to see the ground beneath your feet just as clearly in person. Don’t keep looking at your screen while walking; take photos from a place where you can stop. Instead of choosing a festival based only on the number of lights, find out who moves them and how, and you may discover a scene you’ll want to see next.

Official sources consulted

• Akita Kanto Festival official site, “About the Kanto Festival”
• Chichibu Shrine, “Chichibu Night Festival”
• Kishiwada City, “Danjiri Festival: Lantern-Lit Procession”

This article is based on publicly available information from official sources, local governments, tourism associations, and others. Information checked: 2026/10/01. Please check the official information for the year you plan to visit for dates, venues, traffic restrictions, and participation requirements.