Ever since the old times, paper lanterns were used in Japan for lighting and advertising. The tradition survived until today, paper lanterns are often displayed in front of the traditional restaurants, at shrines and temples, they are lighting the festivals and the Bon Odori scenes. However, although they look the same, all of them are now lit by electric lighting.

Here is one of the most beautiful paper lanterns displays I have seen, decorating the wooden stage of the Yasaka Shrine from Kyoto. Each lantern is inscribed with the name of the donor (usually businesses from Kyoto), and the whole ensemble is lit every evening.

Yasaka Shrine, Kyoto

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Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Sugegasa, the Japanese hat