Yoshiwara no Mandoro (吉原の万灯籠)
Yoshiwara no Mandoro is a traditional and vibrant festival that takes place in Maizuru City, Kyoto Prefecture. It is registered as a cultural properties.
Summary
It started about three hundred years when, following a period when giant jellyfish made fishing impossible and there were a large number of deaths at sea, people began to pray for the removal of the jellyfish, the prevention of marine accidents and a good haul.
It is said to have originated when the 18-meter tall Mandoro Lantern, made of bamboo in the shape of a fish was lit with the sacred flame brought from Atago-jinja Shrine on Mt. Atago (Maizuru City), put in the Isatsu River, and rotated to appease the wrath of the sea god.
Date
August 16 each year, from around 19:00
Place
By the Yamato-bashi Bridge at the mouth of the Isatsu-gawa River.
Access
About 10 minutes from the Maizuru-nishi Interchange on the Maizuru-Wakasa Expressway via National Route 27.
About 5 minutes by car from Nishi-Maizuru Station on the Maizuru Line of West Japan Railway Company (JR West).
Be aware that there is no parking space.