Yamanakako Ice Candles Festival
Ice molds are, both literally and figuratively, cool. Put a couple thousand of these in a field with candles inside, and you’ve got the makings of a great winter festival. This was the scene at Lake Yamanaka, one of the most scenic areas that surrounds Mt. Fuji.
Sadly, a passing snow storm prevented the views of Mt. Fuji that the area is most known for (and with it any chances of a ‘Diamond Fuji’ view at sunset). The cloud cover was picturesque in its own right, and having a few flurries only added to the atmosphere.
The ice candles were not the only element of the local festivities. For a few hundred yen, you could also purchase a balloon, or Sky Lantern, with a special candle inside. Messages of goodwill for the new year were inscribed on the lanterns’s surface, and right after sunset these were released. In true Japanese fashion for the environment, the lanterns were tethered so none of them escaped to become trash in the surrounding area. A nice light up - and a challenge for my camera - to cap off the frosty event.
Shot on February 11, 2024 - Travel, Japan
