ABOUT THE EVENT:
August 18 - 21, 2026 (Tuesday - Friday), 6:30-8:30pm
Experiencing the summer tradition of Tōrō Nagashi within the tranquil beauty of Hakone's histroic Japanese garden as it glows with illuminated lanterns floating in our iconic koi pond.
Tōrō Nagashi, or “floating lanterns”, is a ceremony in which participants write personal messages on lanterns and release them onto water in remembrance of loved ones or to express hopes and gratitude. Traditionally the ceremony is associated with Obon, a Japanese summer observance with Buddhist roots honoring one's ancestors. At the end of each Obon season, lanterns are floated onto water to symbolize lights that guide our ancestral spirits. Today, Tōrō Nagashi is embraced as a cultural practice throughout Japan and around the world as a way of remembrance and reflection.
Participants at Hakone's Toro Nagashi are invited to write a personal message on their own lantern and gently float them in our koi pond following a brief remembrance ceremony.