murmurOnomichi Lantern Festival (Akari Matsuri)
Onomichi City · Temples and approaches in central Onomichi, the station front and other spots
Dates and details can change. Always check the official website before you go.
Onomichi Akari Matsuri Executive Committee · Last checked: Oct 10, 2026
Dates
Dates confirmed with official sources
- 2026
- Sat, Oct 17, 2026 18:00–20:30
- 2027
- Dates have not been announced yet. Please check the official website.
- Usual timing
- Usually mid October
- How the date is set
- Changes from year to year Cancelled in stormy weather
- Venue
- Temples and approaches in central Onomichi, the station front and other spots
- City
- Onomichi City, Hiroshima
About
For one autumn night, about 25,000 lights are set out across Onomichi, the hillside town on the Onomichi Channel. Soft paper lanterns run from the stone landings at the water's edge up to the approaches and grounds of old temples on the slopes of Mt. Senkoji, Mt. Jodoji and Mt. Saikokuji, recalling the all-night lamps that once guided Kitamaebune trading ships into port. The glow isn't limited to the temples: the station area, the Hondori shopping arcade, the summit station of the Senkoji ropeway and the city art museum are all part of it, so you can walk a route linking Senkoji, Jodoji, Saikokuji and more. Temple treasure exhibitions, showing items normally kept out of sight, and live music are scheduled for the same evening.
Sources
- OfficialOnomichi Akari Matsuri Executive Committee www.onomichi-matsuri.jp
- OfficialOnomichi Tourism Association www.ononavi.jp
Last checked: Oct 10, 2026. Event information is based on official announcements, but changes may not always be reflected here. Please check each official website for accurate details.
Other events this month
On the day, see what locals are murmuring on the murmur map
murmur is an app that shows short, anonymous posts on a map, right where they were written. On festival day, open the map around the venue and see what people nearby are saying.