Name: Yamaguchi Tanabata Lantern Festival
Start: 2026-08-06
End: 2026-08-07
Location: Around Yamaguchi City Central Shopping Arcade and Park Road, Ōdono, Yuda Onsen, and elsewhere

A summer festival with a tradition spanning approximately 600 years, illuminating central Yamaguchi City with tens of thousands of red lanterns. Enjoy a uniquely Yamaguchi nighttime scene as you explore the tunnel of light, lantern , and decorations at each plaza.

About Yamaguchi Tanabata Lantern Festival

The Yamaguchi Tanabata Lantern Festival is a traditional event that illuminates central Yamaguchi City with red lanterns.

Carrying on the Ouchi clan’s lantern tradition, tens of thousands of lanterns are displayed in the central shopping arcade and around Park Road.

The venues extend across shopping arcades, plazas, and roadsides, and a distinctive feature is that you can enjoy different decorations and events at each location.

Source: 山口七夕ちょうちんまつり【2026】｜イベント｜【公式】山口県観光/旅行サイトおいでませ山口へ

Festival highlights

The main attraction is the tunnel of red lanterns that appears along the central shopping arcade and elsewhere.

Lantern mikoshi appear near Prefectural Route 204, where you can watch them move through the streets adorned with red lanterns.

Lantern trees and lantern yamakasa floats are set up at Kameyama Park Fureai Plaza, while mini sudare lanterns and workshops are held at Ichinosaka River Traffic and Exchange Plaza.

Source: 市報2026年8月号山口七夕ちょうちんまつり - 山口市ウェブサイト / イベント（2026年） – 山口七夕ちょうちんまつり公式サイト山口七夕ちょうちんまつり公式サイト

A traditional summer festival as red lantern light envelops the streets of Yamaguchi

What to expect

Walk through the nighttime venues and see the lantern-and-bamboo decorations in the central shopping arcade and the displays at each plaza.

In 2026, the lantern mikoshi appeared on the 6th and a dance event was held on the 7th. Workshops and food trucks were scheduled for both days.

At Ichinosaka River Traffic and Exchange Plaza, you can also make your own lantern using a lantern and a strip of paper.

Source: 山口七夕ちょうちんまつり2026を楽しむ！歴史 · 場所 · 屋台 · Parking · 交通規制をレポート！｜ブログ｜【公式】山口県観光/旅行サイトおいでませ山口へ

How to take part

You can visit the venues and enjoy the decorations and events.

The lantern workshop at Ichinosaka River Traffic and Exchange Plaza is presented as an activity open to general visitors.

The 2026 activities are limited to the first 300 people each day, so those hoping to take part are advised to arrive early.

The lantern workshop was held at Ichinosaka River Traffic and Exchange Plaza from 7 p.m. on August 6, 2026 and the 7th.

Participation is on a first-come, first-served basis, with a limit of 300 people per day.

The activity fee is listed as 500 yen per lantern. Write a wish or other message on a strip of paper and attach it to the lantern.

Location and access

Venue and address

The venues include Yamaguchi City Central Shopping Arcade, Park Road, Prefectural Route 204, Ichinosaka River Traffic and Exchange Plaza, and Kameyama Park Fureai Plaza.

Address: Central Shopping Arcade and Park Road, Yamaguchi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Train and bus

It is a 5-minute walk from JR Yamaguchi Station and a 30-minute bus ride from JR Shin-Yamaguchi Station.

By car

A 20-minute drive from Ogori IC on the Chugoku Expressway.

In 2026, traffic restrictions were announced from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Parking

Parking is available at locations including Yamaguchi Prefectural Education Hall, Yamaguchi Prefectural Library, and the parking lot reserved for Kameyama Park visitors.

In 2026, temporary parking lots are open from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Address Central Shopping Arcade and Park Road, Yamaguchi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture

Open in Google Maps

Travel by taxi PRFind a taxi or private transfer for your journey.Find a taxi on Kiwitaxi Long-distance buses are another option PRFind routes and fares from your departure point to your destination.Find highway buses on Rakuten Travel

Dates and season

2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)

In 2026, the festival was held for 2 days, on August 6 (Thursday) and the 7th (Friday).

The lantern-and-bamboo decorations were displayed on both days from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; the lantern mikoshi appeared on the 6th, and the dance event took place on the 7th.

Since times vary by venue and event, visitors are advised to check the schedule for the events they want to see before setting out.

Accommodation and hotels PR

Prices and availability are current at the time of retrieval. For multi-night stays, only the first night’s price is shown. Confirm the final price and directions to the venue with the booking provider. Select your dates again when using the area search link. Search area: within 3 km of Central Yamaguchi Prefecture / Yamaguchi City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)

Supported by Rakuten Developers

Tips for your visit

Traffic restrictions cover a wide area around the venues, and parking lots get crowded, so visitors are advised to use public transportation.

山口県山口市にある体験交流公園

Visit the official page ↗

Photo and data sources

写真：TT mk2 / CC BY-SA 3.0

Photo source ·

Facility data source

Origins and History of Yamaguchi Tanabata Lantern Festival

The Yamaguchi Tanabata Lantern Festival is said to carry on the Ouchi clan’s Obon lantern tradition.

The festival is said to have begun in the Muromachi period, when Moriaki Ouchi lit a tall lantern on a bamboo pole on the night of Obon to pray for the repose of his ancestors.

The tradition was then passed down as an Obon observance honoring ancestors, and evolved into today’s festival of decorating the town with red lanterns.

Official information

Information about the event, venues, and traffic restrictions is available on the official Yamaguchi Tanabata Lantern Festival website.

The 2026 event list gives the venues and times for each day, as well as details of events such as the lantern mikoshi and workshops.

For inquiries, contact the Yamaguchi City Furusato Festival Executive Committee.