2026 Yamaga Toro Matsuri (Lantern Festival): A Full-Day Course

This full-day course centers on the first day (August 15, 2026) of the 'Yamaga Toro Matsuri,' a festival with a history of over 400 years in Yamaga City, Kumamoto. During the day, visit Yachiyoza, a theater that retains the atmosphere of the Meiji era, and the Yamaga Toro Folk Craft Museum, which introduces the traditional lantern craftsmanship at the heart of the festival, and walk through the historic bathhouse townscape of Yamaga Onsen. In the evening, have an early dinner at Roadside Station Yamaga, then head to Omiya Shrine. In 2026, due to the impact of the Reiwa 8 Kumamoto Earthquake, the festival is being held on a reduced scale: events such as the Thousand-Lantern Dance and fireworks are cancelled, and only the Shinto rites and related ceremonies at Omiya Shrine will take place. Combined with the dedicated lantern display around town and the Yamaga Toro Meguri Stamp Rally, this is a day for the family to take their time savoring the lantern tradition alive in the town of Yamaga.