Takayama Takeakari Bamboo Lantern Festival 2026

Why You Should Visit

Takayama in Ikoma City is Japan's best-known home of the bamboo tea whisk (chasen), and every autumn this festival fills the Takayama Bamboo Garden with bamboo sculptures lit by candles. The 30th edition runs over two evenings in October 2026. As dusk falls, bamboo lanterns line the garden and the craft village takes on a quiet, glowing atmosphere. Alongside the bamboo installations there are live performances, a tea gathering and hands-on workshops, plus lantern works and senryu poems submitted by the public. Entry is free, making it an easy evening outing for anyone curious about Japan's bamboo craft culture.

Programs

Timetable & Map

Essentials

location

Takayama Chikurin-en (Takayama Bamboo Garden)

period

October 10, 2026 (Sat) - October 11, 2026 (Sun)

Time

Lanterns lit 17:30–20:00 (lighting ceremony from 17:00 on Oct 10)

cost

Free entry

Links

Official Website

Kobe · Gluten-free

Basque cheesecakeBaked with rice flour, no wheat. Whole 12cm, serves 2-3¥4,700 incl. shipping (Japan only)

access

Free shuttle bus from Gakken Kita-Ikoma Station (Kintetsu Keihanna Line), about 10 minutes (departures 13:35–19:05). Parking at Takayama Chikurin-en is limited, so visitors are asked to use the shuttle.

TICKETS / REGISTRATION

No booking needed to see the lanterns. Workshops required advance application, which closed on September 25 (Fri) for 2026.

NOTE

Other exhibits and sales

Senryu lanterns: senryu poems submitted on the themes "tall", "knit" and "stand", plus children's senryu, displayed on lanterns
Bamboo lantern works submitted by the public
Poster design proposals for the event by Nara College of Arts students
Ikoma-kita Junior High School × Kitanaka-an: sweets designed by junior high students
Limited-edition Takayama Take-akari soft-serve ice cream

Workshops

Parent-and-child tea ceremony, knitting, tea-scoop carving and chasen finishing (advance booking only; applications have closed)

*The programme may change or be cancelled depending on the weather

FAQ

Is there an entry fee?

Entry is free, and no booking is needed to see the lanterns.

What time are the lanterns lit?

The lanterns are on display from 17:30 to 20:00. On Saturday, October 10, a lighting ceremony starts at 17:00.

Can I walk from the station?

It is some distance from the nearest station. During the event, a free shuttle bus runs from Gakken Kita-Ikoma Station (about 10 minutes). Buses leave the station 13:35–19:05, and the last bus from Takayama Chikurin-en is at 20:48. There is no service from Ikoma Station.

Calendar

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