Bonbori Matsuri Photos at Kamakura

Papern shade lantern festival at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu

Jessica A Paje Aug 07, 2014 - 1 min read

<p>Admire the 400 delicate Bonbori lined up beautifully at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, Kamakura.</p>

<p>Many precious pieces of artwork on display in beautiful Kamakura</p>

<p>From the ground up, the bonbori festival is such a work of art!</p>

<p>Also known as dankazura, start your journey to view the bonbori on the raised cherry tree pathway.</p>

<p>Bonbori is a Japanese lamp with a paper shade.</p>

<p>Such a darling display of innocence</p>

<p>Various pictures and examples of calligraphy offered to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu are made into shades for the lanterns.</p>

<p>Lotus flower immediately caught my attention on this warm summer evening.</p>

<p>Bonbori delicately lit one by one, so to be enjoyed by others.</p>

<p>Softly lit Bonbori against the wall of sake barrels.</p>

<p>Enjoy the masterpieces inscribed on the lanterns at the shrine</p>

<p>The shrine receives many contributions of drawings from famous people for the making of the lampshades.</p>

<p>Ahh, the sights and sounds of hanabi (fireworks) season!</p>

<p>Have your cameras ready for the hundreds of stunning Bonbori on display.</p>

‘Twas a warm summer evening in Kamakura. The cicada love song is buzzing with excitement. Hundreds of people flock to witness the delicate candle lighting of 400 Bonbori, or Japanese paper shade lanterns. Artistically decorated by budding artists, professionals, and celebrities, the Bonbori are lined up beautifully along the raised cherry tree pathway and continue up to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura.

Bonbori-Matsuri (Bonbori Festival 雪洞祭) is composed of three rituals held from August 6th-8th:

Nagoshi-sai: End of Summer Ritual to purifiy defilement and purge the body and the spirit.
Risshu-sai: Start of Autumn Ritual to pray for abundant harvest and thanks given for a healthy life.
Sanetomo-sai: Ritual to praise the virtue of Sanetomo, the 3rd Kamakura shogunate.

Be sure to also check out the short video captured on Bonbori Matsuri here.

Jessica A Paje @jessica.paje

Originally from San Diego, California, I lived in Yokosuka, Japan, for 5 years. In 2010, I arrived with a new outlook on my future. Mainly, to refocus on family and let my curiosities take us to places we’ve only dreamt of. Along the way, we’d hopefully develop new friendships and simply collect ...