Magical Night at Yokokan in Fukui

Annual spring illumination at a historical site

Takako Sakamoto Mar 19, 2015 - 2 min read

<p>Silhouette of a cherry tree and buildings under the twilight sky</p>

<p>Handmade lanterns set along the street in front of Yokokan</p>

<p>Flickering flame of a torch at the entrance</p>

<p>Dim lights of lanterns ushering visitors to a magical night</p>

<p>Night fell and lantern lights loomed in the dark</p>

<p>A parade of bare trees under the deep-blue sky</p>

<p>An army of handmade paper lanterns line the path</p>

<p>Tall bamboo lanterns add mystery to the magical night</p>

<p>Soft sound of an erhu filled the night air</p>

<p>Wooden pillar of a Japanese room with an illuminated garden in the background</p>

The other night I visited an illumination event held at Yokokan Garden in Fukui City. I went there in early summer last year and was fascinated by its simple beauty. However, I'd never visited it at night, so I was excited when I heard about the night event. This is an annual spring illumination which has been held for 15 years now, and the whole event is planned and operated not by the local government, but by over a hundred volunteers. The theme of this year was 'Dream', and many elementary students had written down or drawn their dreams on handmade paper lanterns which lined the paths within and outside the garden. Once I stepped inside the premises, I was mesmerized by the magical beauty of the whole scene!

Illuminated Yokokan Garden Series 1. Magical Night at Yokokan In Fukui 2. Illuminated Yokokan Garden in Fukui 3. Plum Trees in Limelight at Yokokan

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Takako Sakamoto @takako.sakamoto

I was born in and grew up in Tokushima prefecture, and have lived in many places since then: Nishinomiya, Kyoto, Nara, Mie, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Fukuoka and Fukui. I am currently living in Yokohama City. All the places I lived, all the places I visited, I have loved dearly. The histor...