Takehara's "Sho-kei no michi", the festival of candles

Every year, Hiroshima prefecture holds a candle festival in city of Takehara called "Takehara Sho-kei no michi" which translates as the longing road. The historical district of Takehara is lighted up by countless candles inside bamboos, creating a magical and sacred atmosphere.

The sacred and magical candle festival of Hiroshima

Hiroshima is widely known for the peace memorial park and atomic bomb dome and many people visit the place to witness the horrific incident that took place in World War II. But Hiroshima also offers a traditional and beautiful experience that tourist can enjoy. During the last weekend of October, the city of Takehara in Hiroshima prefecture holds a candle festival called " Takehara Sho-kei no michi" or "he longing road". This festival has been carried out every year since 2002, which uses Japan's symbolic bamboos to hold candles and light up the historical preservation area of Takehara that remains from the period of Edo. The sides of the roads are decorated by countless bamboos lighting the candles and you could even see the sculptured bamboos with different shapes and patterns. In 2012, it marked its 10th year anniversary, decorating the streets with 5420 bamboo pipes to with more than 10000 people gathering to celebrate this event. The shops and restaurants also join up with the celebration every year, lighting up their shops with beautiful lanterns made with papers and bamboos. Exploring the area, you can so find many traditional exhibitions as well as a beautiful tunnel with lights made with bamboos. This festival is an appreciation of tradition and culture and walking through the sacred atmosphere of candle lighting bamboos can be truly a wonderful experience which is something only unique to Hiroshima's Takehara city but nowhere else.

More traditional experiences at the festival

During this candle festival, you can also enjoy entertainment other traditional cultures of Japan at free of charge. Famous and classic Kabuki dance performed by the artist Jun Kabuki Mai is something you wouldn't want to miss. If you are not familiar with Kabuki dance, it's a classic Japanese dance-drama performed with singing and dancing in highly formalised manner. It has been a popular theatrical entertainment for the Japanese people for centuries that is rich in music, dance, costume, and staging. A traditional calligraphy show performed by an artist called Chad (Sato Hitomi) can also be seen at this festival which is a mix of traditional and contemporary presentation. Her performance of calligraphy with a slow dance and music is something extraordinary and unique and it has fascinated a lot of people. Bamboo instrument performance is also something you would enjoy while visiting the festival.

Takehara, the stage of Tamayura

竹原はアニメ『たまゆら』の聖地｜特集｜竹原市公式観光サイト　ひろしま竹原観光ナビ

アニメ『たまゆら』は、竹原市を主な舞台に、写真が大好きな女子高生 沢渡 楓（さわたり ふう）と、彼女を取り巻く人たちの日常とささやかな夢を描いた心温まるストーリーです。
2017年8月26日に、「訪れてみたい日本のアニメ聖地」88か所の１つに選ばれました！Takehara city is also popular for another thing. Tamayura is one of the popular anime series written by Junichi Sato. It has also been selected as one of the must-visit anime stages in Japan. Yamayura is a story about girls in high school and the Takehara city of the stage for this anime series. At a traditional house called "Kyuukasaitei", you can also see the exhibition of the Tamayura. So if you are an anime fan visiting Hiroshima, Takehara is a must-go spot to explore the stage of Tamayura.

Photos of Takehara area

写真提供：広島県

写真提供：広島県

写真提供：広島県

How to visit?

http://gethiroshima.com/event/takehara-shokei-no-michi-candle-festival/
http://www.i-love-takehara.jp/shoukei/index.html
https://www.takeharakankou.jp/feature/tamayura_seichi/top