If you like, please repeat it out loud in Japanese.
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2025年12月12日。
December 12, 2025.
今日は、通常のライトアップでは決して味わえない、光の体験をお届けします。
Today, we bring you an experience of light that you can never get with a regular light-up.
暗闇に包まれた神社の境内が、1万本の竹灯籠によって静かに息を吹き込まれる。
The shrine grounds, shrouded in darkness, are quietly brought to life by 10,000 bamboo lanterns.
これが想像できますか？
Can you imagine this?
まるで森に眠っていた灯籠が、一斉に目覚めたかのような光景。
It’s as if all the lanterns that have been sleeping in the forest have suddenly woken up.
これが、長野県安曇野市・穂高神社で開催される「安曇野神竹灯」です。
This is the Azumino Kamiakari festival, held at Hotaka Shrine in Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture.
境内に並ぶ竹灯籠は、すべて手作業で組まれています。
The bamboo lanterns lined up in the shrine grounds are all hand-assembled.
揺らめく炎が木々に優しく影を落とし、辺り一面を「静寂そのもの」に包み込みます。
The flickering flames cast gentle shadows on the trees, enveloping the area in “silence itself.”
さらに、約20の屋台が集まる「神竹灯夜市」も開催されます。
The festival also hosts the Kamiakari Night Market, with around 20 food stalls.
飲食から雑貨まで、日替わりで様々な屋台が出店し、訪れる度にまるで別世界に来たかのような気分を味わえます。
A variety of stalls are set up each day, selling everything from food and drink to miscellaneous goods, and every time you visit you’ll feel like you’ve entered another world.
そして何より嬉しいのは、竹灯籠に火を灯す体験ができることです。
And the best part is that you can try lighting a bamboo lantern.
16時までにライターを持参すれば、あなたも「灯す人」になれるのです。
If you bring your lighter by 4pm, you too can become a “lighter.”
この体験こそが、神竹灯の醍醐味です。
This experience is what makes the Kamiakari festival so enjoyable.
今日、お伝えしたいメッセージはひとつ。
I have one message to share with you today:
灯りをただ眺めるだけでなく、灯りに参加する夜があります。
There are nights when you don’t just look at the lights, but take part in them.
それが安曇野神竹灯です。
That is the Azumino Kamiakari night market.
今日も一日の元気を頂きました。
This has given me energy for another day.
朝食ありがとう。
Thank you for breakfast.
💡 Azumino Hatake Akashi (Sacred Bamboo Light) Information
The “Azumino Hatake Akashi” is an ethereal and mystical light festival held at Hotaka Shrine in Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture, Japan.
Location and Underlying Concepts
| Aspect | Details |
| Location | Hotaka Shrine (Hotaka Jinja) in Hotaka, Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture. |
| Shrine Significance | It is revered as one of the three principal shrines of Shinano Province (old Nagano) and is widely worshipped as the Guardian Deity of Azumino. Its inner sanctuary (Okumiya) is located at the summit of Mount Hotaka in the Japanese Alps (Northern Alps), making it also known as the deity of the mountains and traffic safety. |
| Meaning of the Bamboo Lanterns | The lanterns often symbolize repose for souls and warding off evil/calamity. The use of bamboo emphasizes aspects like sustainability and the utilization of local resources. |
| Name “Hatake Akashi” | The name literally means “Light of Bamboo in the Shrine Precincts,” symbolizing the harmony between nature and the sacred domain. |
Event Highlights and Experience
The Charm of the Bamboo Lanterns
- An Ambiance of “Absolute Silence”: Unlike standard electric illuminations, the natural bamboo and the flickering flame create a solemn and magical atmosphere that embodies the Japanese spirit of Wa (harmony) and Wabi-Sabi (transient and imperfect beauty).
- The Warmth of Handcraftsmanship: The fact that all 10,000 lanterns are handmade symbolizes the dedication of the people who support the event and the warmth inherent in each light.
The Hatake Akashi Night Market (Yoichi)
- A Contrast of Activity: The bustling night market, featuring around 20 stalls, creates a compelling contrast with the silent, serene space of the bamboo lanterns, ensuring visitors remain engaged.
- Contribution to the Local Economy: By featuring local food and merchandise vendors, the event plays a part in revitalizing the regional economy.
The Lighting Experience (Participatory Event)
- The Role of the “Lighter”: Visitors are not merely “spectators” but become “participants,” helping to create the event itself and fostering a strong sense of unity.
- A Unique Mechanism: The requirement for visitors to bring their own lighter to light a lantern makes the participation active and engaging while keeping the entry barrier low.
Connection to the Region
- Azumino Tourism: Azumino City is famous for the stunning scenery of the Japanese Alps, its wasabi farms, and art museums (like the Azumino Chihiro Museum). It is a destination where nature and art harmonize. The Hatake Akashi adds a new layer of attraction to winter tourism in Azumino.
- Winter Events: Hotaka Shrine holds various sacred rites toward the year-end and New Year. This bamboo lantern event may serve to open the solemn atmosphere of these rites to the general public.
Important Supplementary Information
| Item | Note |
| Date of Event | Although the event is generally referenced as December 12th, the actual event is typically held during a specific period in the winter season each year. Please confirm the latest dates on the official tourism websites for Hotaka Shrine and Azumino City. |
| Access | The shrine is relatively easy to access, located within walking distance of Hotaka Station on the JR Oito Line. |
| Cold Weather Gear | December in Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture, is extremely cold. Visitors must take sufficient precautions against the cold when attending the event. |
