Mar 19, 2015 - 1 min read

Magical Night at Yokokan in Fukui

Annual spring illumination at a historical site

By Takako Sakamoto

Community writer

Silhouette of a cherry tree and buildings under the twilight sky

Handmade lanterns set along the street in front of Yokokan

Flickering flame of a torch at the entrance

Dim lights of lanterns ushering visitors to a magical night

Night fell and lantern lights loomed in the dark

A parade of bare trees under the deep-blue sky

An army of handmade paper lanterns line the path

Tall bamboo lanterns add mystery to the magical night

Soft sound of an erhu filled the night air

Wooden pillar of a Japanese room with an illuminated garden in the background

The other night I visited an illumination event held at Yokokan Garden in Fukui City. I went there in early summer last year and was fascinated by its simple beauty. However, I'd never visited it at night, so I was excited when I heard about the night event. This is an annual spring illumination which has been held for 15 years now, and the whole event is planned and operated not by the local government, but by over a hundred volunteers. The theme of this year was 'Dream', and many elementary students had written down or drawn their dreams on handmade paper lanterns which lined the paths within and outside the garden. Once I stepped inside the premises, I was mesmerized by the magical beauty of the whole scene!

Illuminated Yokokan Garden Series 1. Magical Night at Yokokan In Fukui 2. Illuminated Yokokan Garden in Fukui 3. Plum Trees in Limelight at Yokokan