Takikawa Paper Bag Lantern Festival 2027 – Japan

Overview

The city of Takikawa, located between Sapporo and Asahikawa, carries out its lantern festival in its annual community festival. The citizens of Takikawa create thousands of lanterns out of simple paper bags, some simple, some works of art, and light them by candle to create one beautiful night.

Held in Takikawa City for only one night each year, this event is a very short festival lasting just three hours, where over 15,000 paper bag lanterns created by Takikawa citizens and volunteers illuminate a part of the city with a gentle light.

During regular events, the shopping street in front of JR Takikawa Station, commonly known as Bell Road, is turned into a pedestrian zone, and paper bag lanterns are lined up to illuminate the night sky. A free drink station will also be set up at the venue, offering free amazake sweet rice wine, coffee, and other beverages. Paper bag lanterns have also been set up in the municipal parking lot in front of the station, where local restaurants are selling food and drinks from tent booths.

Initially, the event attracted mostly local residents, but as it continued, the number of visitors from outside the city, outside the prefecture, and sometimes even from overseas, increased. The small town comes alive with the warm glow of the lights. The handmade paper bag lantern by the citizens of Takikawa is lit for only 3 hours in a corner of the snow-covered shopping street for one night, and you can enjoy a fantastic atmosphere. Volunteers participate not only in production of lanterns but also in installation, making it a cozy event supported by locals. You can also experience making lanterns on the day, which is popular with families.

Cultural Significance & Origins

Takikawa Paper Bag Lantern Festival is citizen-made winter light festival born from recycling and community spirit.

Community Festival Roots: The city of Takikawa carries out its lantern festival in its annual community festival. The 22nd edition was held in 2024, 24th scheduled for 2026, indicating start in early 2000s. It was created as winter community revitalization event for central Hokkaido city located between Sapporo and Asahikawa, where winters are long and intensely cold.

Paper Bag Recycling Idea: The 14,000 lantern which appealed to citizens by saying that this event, the unnecessary paper bag etc. is installed. Materials are paper bags distributed by organizing committee or paper bags that you already have at home. Citizens reuse simple paper shopping bags, such as Kitakaro paper bags famous in Hokkaido, layering another paper bag on top of bag decorated with paper cutouts, collages, or drawings. When you light up finished lantern, cut-out sections of outer bag glow softly, making illustrations and decorations stand out.

Citizen Participation: Paper bag lanterns, arguably highlight, are mostly made by individuals who wish to participate. In schools and welfare facilities throughout Takikawa City, paper bag lantern making workshops are frequently held as part of classes and recreational activities. People of all ages, from young children to elderly, participate in making process, and on day of event, you can see people happily admiring their own creations and those of friends. Volunteers participate not only in production but also installation.

Lighting Snowy Night: Lantern emits soft light of candle, formal size, coloring, coloring night of Takikawa of intense-cold term. Held for only three hours, festival turns snow-covered shopping street into warm gallery. The gentle light of paper bag lanterns adorns shopping street in front of station.

Expansion to Citywide: Before and after main night, mini-events are held in various locations throughout Takikawa City and surrounding areas, such as Ebeotsu Station illumination, creating lively community-wide atmosphere. Window lantern displays by junior high, high school, and junior college art club students also exhibited.

Traditions, Rituals & Customs

Tradition is simple: make, light, admire, share warmth in cold.

Lantern Making Workshop: We make lanterns by layering another paper bag on top of paper bag that has been decorated with paper cutouts, collages, or drawings. Materials are paper bags distributed by organizing committee or paper bags you already have at home. Workshops held in schools and welfare facilities as part of classes and recreational activities. On day, you can also experience making lanterns, popular with families.

Paper Cutout Technique: Paper bag lantern with paper cutouts on Kitakaro paper bag example. When you light finished lantern, cut-out sections glow softly, making illustrations stand out. Designs range from simple hearts by children to elaborate works of art depicting animals, flowers, anime characters, and local landscapes.

Installation Ritual: Volunteers participate in installation, lining up over 15,000 lanterns along Bell Road, municipal parking lot in front of station, and surrounding streets. Lanterns placed directly on snow, creating reflection.

Candle Lighting: Lanterns lit by candle, not electric, emitting soft light. For only three hours, town glows. Free drink station offers free amazake sweet rice wine, coffee, and other beverages to keep warm.

Photo Contest – Akari Monogatari: Event day, venue hosts photo contest titled Akari Monogatari, story of light. Visitors capture landscape, people, objects that convey story of light. Awards include Akari Monogatari Grand Prize, Excellence Award, Special Prizes, with Takikawa specialty products as prizes. Winning works used for next year’s poster, flyers, postcards, HP.

Hospitality Area: Scenes from hospitality area show children gazing at paper bag lanterns lined up on snow, food booths from local restaurants selling food and drinks from tent booths.

Window Lantern: Students of junior high, high school, junior college art clubs create window lanterns displayed in city.

What to Expect at the Festival

Expect intensely cold but intensely warm night of 15,000 candle lights on snow.

Held in Takikawa City for only one night each year, very short festival lasting just three hours, where over 15,000 paper bag lanterns illuminate part of city with gentle light. During regular events, shopping street in front of JR Takikawa Station, commonly known as Bell Road, turned into pedestrian zone, paper bag lanterns lined up to illuminate night sky.

Small town comes alive with warm glow. Handmade paper bag lantern by citizens is lit for only 3 hours in corner of snow-covered shopping street for one night, and you can enjoy fantastic atmosphere. Children gazing at lanterns lined up on snow, approaching and looking at lanterns.

Municipal parking lot in front of station also has lanterns, where local restaurants sell food and drinks from tent booths. Free drink station offers free amazake, coffee.

Mini-events held in various locations throughout Takikawa City and surrounding areas, such as paper bag lanterns lit up at Ebeotsu Station, creating lively community-wide atmosphere.

You can also experience making lanterns on day, popular with families. Volunteers help, cozy event supported by locals. As it continued, number of visitors from outside city, outside prefecture, and sometimes even overseas increased.

Dress extremely warm, with snow boots, as you will stand on snow for hours, sipping amazake, photographing lanterns that glow like涡, cake, geometric patterns as seen in past photo contest winners like Lantern Swirl, Outstanding Winter Lantern Cake, Twilight and Lantern Light.

Date & Schedule

Event Dates: Late February 2027 (Dates TBD)

Official Timing Information: The city of Takikawa, located between Sapporo and Asahikawa, carries out its lantern festival in its annual community festival. The citizens of Takikawa create thousands of lanterns out of simple paper bags, some simple, some works of art, and light them by candle to create one beautiful night.

Held in Takikawa City for only one night each year, this event is a very short festival lasting just three hours, where over 15,000 paper bag lanterns created by Takikawa citizens and volunteers illuminate a part of city with gentle light.

For reference:

• 2026 edition: February 21, Saturday, 17:00 to 20:00, JR Takikawa Station to Bell Road area, 24th Takikawa Paper Bag Lantern Festival decided by executive committee chairman Yamada Naoto
• 2024 edition: 22nd edition, held November 2024 information shows evening 17:17 to 20:00
• 2020 edition: February 22, 2020, around Bell Road from Takikawa Station, handmade paper bag lantern lit for only 3 hours in corner of snow-covered shopping street
• 2019 edition: February 23, 2019, 14,000 lanterns installed

Typical Daily Schedule Based on Previous Editions:

• Afternoon: Workshops for making lanterns on day, popular with families, at Bell Road venue and community centers
• 17:00: Start of illumination, lighting of over 15,000 paper bag lanterns by volunteers, shopping street in front of JR Takikawa Station turned into pedestrian zone
• 17:00 to 20:00: Main festival, lanterns lit for just three hours, free drink station with amazake, coffee, food booths in municipal parking lot, photo contest Akari Monogatari, children and families admiring creations
• 20:00: End of illumination, extinguishing candles, collection of lanterns
• Before and after: Mini-events in various locations throughout Takikawa City and surrounding areas, such as Ebeotsu Station, and Window Lantern exhibition by middle, high, junior college art clubs

Venue: Around Bell Road from Takikawa Station, JR Takikawa Station area, municipal parking lot in front of station, and Ebeotsu Station area, Takikawa City, Hokkaido

Duration: One night only, 3 hours lighting

Notice: Dates for 2027 not yet confirmed. Page will be updated once official dates announced. Check official event site for latest info.

Visiting this event? Don’t miss out on these amazing activities and local experiences while you’re here.

Main Events & Programme

One-night programme centers on 15,000 lights.

Main Illumination – Bell Road: During regular events, shopping street in front of JR Takikawa Station, commonly known as Bell Road, turned into pedestrian zone, and paper bag lanterns lined up to illuminate night sky. Over 15,000 paper bag lanterns created by citizens and volunteers. Handmade paper bag lantern lit for only 3 hours in corner of snow-covered shopping street for one night, fantastic atmosphere.

Municipal Parking Lot Food Area: Paper bag lanterns set up in municipal parking lot in front of station, where local restaurants are selling food and drinks from tent booths. Free drink station offers free amazake sweet rice wine, coffee, and other beverages.

Lantern Making Experience: You can also experience making lanterns on day, popular with families. Materials paper bags distributed by organizing committee or paper bags you already have at home. We make lanterns by layering another paper bag on top of decorated bag with paper cutouts, collages, drawings. Workshops in schools and welfare facilities throughout city as part of classes.

Ebeotsu Station Mini-Event: Paper bag lanterns lit up at Ebeotsu Station, part of community-wide atmosphere before and after main festival.

Window Lantern Exhibition: Middle, high, junior college art club students create paper bag lanterns displayed as Window Lantern throughout city.

Photo Contest – Akari Monogatari: Event day, venue hosts Akari Monogatari story of light contest, where you capture landscape, people, objects conveying story. By time of day, wonderful scenery can be seen, so apply with unique perspective. Application period after event, awards Akari Monogatari Grand Prize, Excellence, Special Awards with Takikawa specialty products. Past winners include Lantern Swirl, Outstanding Winter Lantern Cake, Twilight and Lantern Light, One by One Feelings of Takikawa, Geometric Pattern.

Community Gathering: Initially attracted mostly local residents, but as it continued, number of visitors from outside city, outside prefecture, sometimes overseas increased. Small town comes alive.

Traditional Dress, Arts & Crafts

Art is paper bag transformation.

Paper Bag Lantern Craft: Materials are paper bags distributed by organizing committee or paper bags you already have at home. We make lanterns by layering another paper bag on top of bag decorated with paper cutouts, collages, or drawings. When you light up finished lantern, cut-out sections of outer bag glow softly, making illustrations stand out. Examples include paper bag lantern with paper cutouts on Kitakaro paper bag, Kitakaro is famous Hokkaido confectionery shop bag, and paper bag lantern with hand-drawn illustration.

Children and Elderly Art: In schools and welfare facilities throughout Takikawa City, paper bag lantern making workshops frequently held as part of classes and recreational activities. People of all ages, from young children to elderly, participate. Designs from simple hearts to elaborate works of art.

Snow as Canvas: Lanterns lined up on snow, children gazing at lanterns lined up on snow, snow reflects candlelight, enhancing glow.

Recycling Art: The 14,000 lantern which appealed to citizens by saying that unnecessary paper bag etc. is installed, emphasizing recycling and reuse of everyday paper bags into art.

Food Craft Booths: Local restaurants selling food and drinks from tent booths, offering local Hokkaido cuisine.

Window Lantern Art: Art club students create more elaborate artistic lanterns for window display, often larger and with complex cutouts.

Photo Art: Photo contest encourages artistic photography of lanterns, past winners show creative perspectives like swirl arrangement and geometric patterns.

Traditional Food & Local Specialties

Festival is community food fair with free drinks and local restaurant booths.

Free Drink Station: Free drink station set up at venue, offering free amazake sweet rice wine, coffee, and other beverages. Amazake is traditional sweet low-alcohol rice drink, served warm to combat intense-cold.

Food Booths in Municipal Parking Lot: Local restaurants selling food and drinks from tent booths. Paper bag lanterns set up in municipal parking lot in front of station.

Takikawa Local Foods:

• Jingisukan: Hokkaido lamb BBQ for 8 USD to 14 USD per plate
• Ramen: Hokkaido miso ramen for 7 USD to 11 USD
• Zangi: Hokkaido fried chicken for 4 USD to 7 USD
• Soup Curry: Hokkaido soup curry for 9 USD to 14 USD
• Dairy Products: Takikawa area dairy, soft cream for 3 USD to 5 USD

Canola Connection: Takikawa’s main attractions include aviation park and hot spring facilities, many people come when bright yellow fields of canola flowers called nanohana bloom from mid to late May, annual Nanohana Festival timed to flowering season, but in winter festival offers canola oil products.

Hokkaido Winter Foods: Hot sake for 4 USD to 7 USD, oden hot pot for 4 USD to 8 USD, yakitori for 3 USD to 6 USD from stalls.

Kitakaro Sweets: Famous Hokkaido sweets maker Kitakaro, whose paper bags used for lanterns, sells baumkuchen and cheesecakes for 5 USD to 15 USD.

Location & Festival Areas

City Location: Takikawa City, Hokkaido, located between Sapporo and Asahikawa, central Hokkaido, Sorachi region

Main Venue: Around Bell Road from Takikawa Station, JR Takikawa Station area, Sakaemachi area. Address: 2-8-9 Sakaemachi, Takikawa-shi, Hokkaido, around Bell Road from Takikawa Station

Bell Road: Shopping street in front of JR Takikawa Station, commonly known as Bell Road, turned into pedestrian zone during festival, lined up with lanterns to illuminate night sky.

Municipal Parking Lot: Municipal parking lot in front of station, where local restaurants sell food and drinks from tent booths and free drink station set up.

Ebeotsu Station Area: Paper bag lanterns lit up at Ebeotsu Station, satellite venue in Takikawa City, creating community-wide atmosphere.

Other Mini-Event Locations: Various locations throughout Takikawa City and surrounding areas host mini-events before and after main night.

Takikawa Context: Takikawa’s main attractions include Takikawa Sky Park where visitors can book short glider experience during flying season, and natural hot spring baths at Takikawa Fureai-no-sato. Many people come when bright yellow fields of canola flowers called nanohana bloom from mid to late May.

Geography: City on Ishikari River, flat plains, heavy snowfall in winter, intensely cold term, snow-covered shopping street adds magic.

Getting to the Festival

Takikawa is easy stop between Sapporo and Asahikawa.

By Limited Express from Sapporo: Take Limited Express Lilac or Kamui from Sapporo Station to Takikawa Station, about 50 minutes to 1 hour, fare about 25 USD to 35 USD. Sunagawa Station is stop between Bibai and Takikawa.

From Asahikawa: Take Limited Express Lilac or Kamui from Asahikawa to Takikawa, about 40 minutes, fare about 20 USD to 30 USD. Or Limited Express Okhotsk for Sapporo, Asahikawa and Abashiri route.

From Tokyo: Take Shinkansen to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto then limited express to Sapporo then to Takikawa, or fly to New Chitose Airport then train. Total from Tokyo 6 to 8 hours.

By Car: From Sapporo via Doto Expressway to Takikawa Interchange, about 1 hour 30 minutes, parking available but Bell Road pedestrianized during event. From Asahikawa about 1 hour.

Local Transport During Festival: Around Bell Road from Takikawa Station turned into pedestrian zone, traffic restrictions. Use train instead of driving. Takikawa Station is within walking distance to venue, 1 minute walk.

Accessibility: Snow-covered shopping street may be slippery, wear snow boots. Venue flat but snow-packed.

Ebeotsu Access: Ebeotsu Station is on Hakodate Main Line, 2 stops from Takikawa, 5 minutes fare about 2 USD.

Where to Stay Nearby

Takikawa is small city, limited hotels but Sapporo and Asahikawa offer many options.

In Takikawa City:

• Hotel Route Inn Takikawa: Business hotel near station, from 60 USD to 95 USD per night, walking distance to Bell Road
• Takikawa Grand Hotel: Near city center, from 70 USD to 110 USD
• Business Hotels: Several small business hotels from 50 USD to 80 USD, fill up during festival weekend as local residents plus visitors attend, book early

Between Sapporo and Asahikawa: Since Takikawa located between Sapporo and Asahikawa, staying in either city is easy.

• Sapporo: 1 hour away, wide range from hostels dorm 25 USD to 40 USD to luxury hotels 150 USD to 400 USD
• Asahikawa: 40 minutes away, hotels from 60 USD to 130 USD, such as Art Hotel Asahikawa, JR Inn Asahikawa

Hot Springs:

• Takikawa Fureai-no-sato: Natural hot spring baths at Takikawa Fureai-no-sato, with accommodation from 80 USD to 150 USD including onsen
• Sunagawa and Bibai: Nearby towns with onsen hotels

Canola Season Alternative: Many people come when bright yellow fields of canola flowers bloom mid to late May, annual Nanohana Festival timed to flowering, so winter is quieter for booking except festival night.

Booking Tip: Event is only one night, 3 hours, but local hotels fill because citizens and volunteers participate, book 1 month ahead for Takikawa, or stay in Sapporo or Asahikawa and take limited express for day trip.

What Visitors Can Participate In

Highly participatory citizen festival, volunteers welcome.

Make Your Own Lantern: You can also experience making lanterns on day, popular with families. Materials paper bags distributed by organizing committee or paper bags you already have at home. We make lanterns by layering another paper bag on top of decorated bag. Workshops in schools and welfare facilities, but also at venue on day.

Volunteer Installation: Volunteers participate not only in production of lanterns but also in installation, making it cozy event supported by locals. Contact Takikawa Paper Bag Lantern Festival Executive Committee via official site lantern-takikawa.jp to volunteer.

Photo Contest: Event day, venue, capture Akari Monogatari story of light, landscape, people, objects, submit after event. By time of day wonderful scenery can be seen, apply with unique perspective. Past winners received Takikawa specialty products.

Admire Creations: You can see people happily admiring own creations and those of friends. Children gazing at paper bag lanterns lined up on snow, child approaches and looks at lantern.

Food Booth Enjoyment: Buy food and drinks from local restaurants in municipal parking lot tent booths, enjoy free amazake and coffee at free drink station.

Ebeotsu and Window Lantern Viewing: Visit Ebeotsu Station illumination and window lantern displays by student art clubs.

Bring Paper Bags: Bring unnecessary paper bags from home to recycle into lanterns, such as Kitakaro bags or other shopping bags.

Things to Do Before or After the Festival

Takikawa and central Hokkaido offer winter and summer attractions.

Takikawa Sky Park: Main attractions include Takikawa Sky Park where visitors can book short glider experience during flying season, from spring to autumn, for 60 USD to 120 USD for short flight.

Takikawa Fureai-no-sato: Natural hot spring baths at Takikawa Fureai-no-sato, perfect to warm up after intense-cold lantern night, entry about 5 USD to 8 USD.

Canola Fields: Many people come when bright yellow fields of canola flowers called nanohana bloom from mid to late May, annual Nanohana Festival timed to flowering season, fields stretch across city.

Sapporo and Asahikawa: Since located between Sapporo and Asahikawa, visit Sapporo Snow Festival in early February before Takikawa festival, or Asahikawa Winter Festival, Asahiyama Zoo for penguin walk.

Furano and Biei: 1 hour from Takikawa, famous for lavender fields in summer and snow activities in winter.

Sunagawa and Bibai: Nearby towns with SHIRO factory Minna no Kojo multi-purpose facility where adults and children can enjoy in nature-filled environment.

Local Museums: Takikawa Museum of Art and Local History, with exhibits on Sorachi region.

Winter Activities: Snowshoeing, cross-country skiing in surrounding countryside.

Local Food & Restaurants

Takikawa food reflects Hokkaido hearty winter cuisine.

Festival Food Booths: In municipal parking lot in front of station, local restaurants selling food and drinks from tent booths. Expect:

• Jingisukan: Lamb BBQ for 8 USD to 14 USD
• Ramen: Miso ramen for 7 USD to 11 USD
• Zangi: Fried chicken for 4 USD to 7 USD
• Yakitori: For 3 USD to 6 USD
• Oden: Hot pot for 4 USD to 8 USD

Free Drinks: Free drink station offering free amazake sweet rice wine, coffee, other beverages to keep warm.

Takikawa Restaurants Year-Round:

• Kitakaro: Famous Hokkaido confectionery shop based in Sunagawa near Takikawa, known for baumkuchen Kaibundo for 10 USD to 20 USD, cheesecakes, uses paper bags that become lanterns
• Ramen and Soup Curry: Hokkaido specialties at local shops for 8 USD to 14 USD
• Sushi and Seafood: Ishikari River fish and Hokkaido seafood for 12 USD to 25 USD
• Dairy: Hokkaido milk, yogurt, soft cream for 3 USD to 6 USD

Hot Springs Food: At Takikawa Fureai-no-sato, restaurant offers local cuisine with panoramic view.

Nearby Sunagawa: SHIRO sweets and cafes.

Ticket Information & Access

Price of Admission: FREE

The city of Takikawa carries out its lantern festival in its annual community festival. Citizens create thousands of lanterns out of simple paper bags, some simple, some works of art, and light them by candle to create one beautiful night. Free to view.

Costs Based on Previous Editions:

• General Viewing: 0 USD, free entry to Bell Road pedestrian zone and municipal parking lot
• Free Drink Station: Free amazake, coffee, other beverages at venue
• Food Booths: Food and drinks from local restaurants tent booths for 3 USD to 14 USD per item
• Lantern Making Experience: Free or small fee, materials paper bags distributed by organizing committee, or bring own paper bags. Workshop making own Tachineputa lantern example from other festivals is 7 USD to 11 USD, but Takikawa lantern making is typically free or 2 USD to 4 USD for materials
• Photo Contest: Free to enter, winners receive Takikawa specialty products

Duration: Very short festival lasting just three hours, where over 15,000 paper bag lanterns illuminate city.

Access: Around Bell Road from Takikawa Station, 1 minute walk from JR Takikawa Station. From Sapporo 50 minutes to 1 hour by Limited Express Lilac or Kamui, fare 25 USD to 35 USD. From Asahikawa 40 minutes.

Venue: Bell Road, 2-8-9 Sakaemachi, Takikawa-shi, Hokkaido, and municipal parking lot in front of station, and Ebeotsu Station.

Notice: Check official site for next date as festival is only one night each year.

Official Event Information

Event Name: Takikawa Paper Bag Lantern Festival 2027 – Japan, also called Takikawa Paper Bag Lantern Festival, Takikawa Kamibukuro Lantern Festival, Takikawa Paper Bag Lantern Festival Executive Committee

Venue: Around Bell Road from Takikawa Station, 2-8-9 Sakaemachi, Takikawa-shi, Hokkaido, municipal parking lot in front of station, Ebeotsu Station area, Takikawa City, Hokkaido, Japan. City located between Sapporo and Asahikawa.

Organizer: Takikawa Paper Bag Lantern Festival Executive Committee, Chairman Yamada Naoto, Takikawa City, Takikawa Tourist Association, and volunteers

Official Website: https://www.lantern-takikawa.jp/

Description: City of Takikawa, located between Sapporo and Asahikawa, carries out its lantern festival in its annual community festival. Citizens of Takikawa create thousands of lanterns out of simple paper bags, some simple, some works of art, and light them by candle to create one beautiful night. Held for only one night each year, very short festival lasting just three hours, where over 15,000 paper bag lanterns created by Takikawa citizens and volunteers illuminate part of city with gentle light. During regular events, shopping street in front of JR Takikawa Station, commonly known as Bell Road, turned into pedestrian zone, and paper bag lanterns lined up to illuminate night sky. Initially attracted mostly local residents, but as it continued, number of visitors from outside city, outside prefecture, and sometimes even from overseas increased.

Contact: Via official site lantern-takikawa.jp and Takikawa Tourist Association.

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