Emukae Sentōrō Tower

Flow of the course

About this spot

Standing in the festival plaza at Emukae Central Park, this roughly 25-meter tower is decorated with about 3,500 lanterns. Known as the tallest lantern tower in Japan, it is the symbol of the Emukae Thousand Lantern Festival, a tradition spanning about 500 years. As the sun starts to go down, food stalls and vendors line the area, so it's best to have dinner — yakisoba, takoyaki, and the like — sometime between 5 and 6pm, before it gets crowded. Once you've eaten, settle into your viewing spot and wait for the moment the lanterns are lit and the whole town is dyed in orange.

Tips

The area around the venue gets very crowded on the festival day, and parking lots fill up early. Using public transportation, or securing parking early, is strongly recommended. Payment at the food stalls is usually cash only, so bring small change. It's a good idea to check the location of restrooms early.

Best time to visit

About 2 hours. Arriving around 5pm, as the sun starts to go down, tends to mean lighter crowds at the stalls and easier movement

Access & map

320 Emukae-chō Nagasaka, Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture 859-6101