Lights In The Night

Mino-shi, a small town near Gujo Hachiman is where all the rice paper is made. It's called washi, and you've probably seen some. You know those paper and wooden screens called 'shoji'? Those are made with washi. So are those beautiful paper lanterns that most people think of when they think of Japan.

Mino is the where the washi is, and every year the residents put on a show for the world. They make paper lanterns, hundreds of them, and then line the streets of this beautiful traditional town. For one weekend, visitors stroll the lanes and view the beautiful lights. To add to the night, the town lights the roofs of the traditional homes and business that line the route. It's absolutely stunning, and kimono clad revelers pad by in a reverent hush, taking in the delicate artistry of light and paper on a clear, dark night.

The designs range from the simple to the silly. There's even a street for lamps made by kids. It was really hard to photograph the lanterns in a way that capture their beauty, but I did my best.

From Japan '08

Paper flowers.

From Japan '08

Classical and contemporary. (what does that mean?)

From Japan '08

From Japan '08

From Japan '08

From Japan '08

From Japan '08

I swear, I could build a house around some of these lamps.

From Japan '08

From Japan '08

From Japan '08

From Japan '08

This is what the town that we walked through looked like. A perfect setting for this festival.

From Japan '08

From Japan '08

Comments

[Keren]

Wow - so pretty! I especially like that last lacy one!

[Richard Alomar]

Sean:

Thanks for the link to your blog. The images and video are fantastic. We go to Japan once a year, maybe next year we can get together. All is well in NYC.

Richard