Matsue Water Lantern Festival

The Matsue Water Lantern Festival, also called Matsue Suitouro, takes place annually in the historic city of Matsue in Shimane Prefecture. It lasts for a few days from late September to early October and features a display of floating lanterns and beautiful lights.

Historical Backdrop

Photo by: PIXTA/ スムース

Matsue City is renowned for its cultural heritage and connection to nature. It is known as the city of water (Mizu no Miyako) because of beautiful Lake Shinji. The Matsue Water Lantern Festival is relatively new. It started in 2003 to promote castle town heritage and blend the traditional Japanese aesthetics with local craftsmanship. It showcases local craftsmanship through handmade washi lanterns, bamboo work, calligraphy and fox masks, uniting art and tradition. The center of this festival is Matsue Castle, the second largest surviving castle and a national treasure.

The Matsue Water Lantern Festival

Photo by: PIXTA/ 緑茶

The Matsue Water Lantern Festival lasts for nine days and lights up the town with thousands of handmade lanterns. This festival has a variety of activities that involve both locals and tourists. For an exceptional experience, visitors can enjoy a nighttime visit to Matsue Castle. Another highlight of this festival is a Horikawa boat tour that allows you to float through Matsue’s waterways and castle moat amidst glowing lanterns.
As you stroll along Shiomi Nawate Street, you can enjoy beautifully lit art installations. The festival features displays such as wisteria trellis lanterns, a large prayer folding screen lantern and unique bamboo lanterns at the entrance of Matsue Castle Otemon Gate. You can find modern LED lanterns near the samurai residences and handmade lanterns made by local artists.

Other Activities

The Matsue Water Lantern Festival includes a variety of activities in addition to the stunning lantern display. In the evening, the Night Fox Festival is held near the Shiomi Nawate area, adding to the festival’s mystic and fun atmosphere. Yatai (food stalls) at the festival offer a taste of Matsue. Sample Shimane white squid curry to sweet treats like Shimanekko ningyo-yaki (Shimane-themed classic Japanese festival sweet). Throughout the festival, local artists display their work, creating a lively atmosphere. Live performances, including street poetry and painting, allow visitors to witness the creative process firsthand.