Jun 10, 2013 - 1 min read

Sparkling Tokyo Hotaru Festival

Thousands of high-tech 'fireflies on the Milky Way’

By Sher Ying Wee

Community writer

The simultaneous events of the floating of lights, Tokyo Skytree light up and music played in the background is actually called ‘Symphony of Lights’.

The Tokyo Hotaru illumination event was held at the river near the Asakusa train station.

There were many staff working hard, providing directions for the visitors and making sure the event went along smoothly and safely.

Visitors who got good seats on the east bank of the river were able to see Tokyo Skytree and the lights together on the river later clearly. Prime photo-taking spot!

There was a huge crowd on the bridge as well. Just beyond the bridge, the LED lights, called inori boshi (prayer stars in Japanese), are starting to float down the river.

Staff in the boats scoop up the lights that have made their way down the river and bring them back to the beginning of the event area to let them float down again.

Many people bought the inori boshi to toss into the river, some in hopes that releasing one during the festival would make their wish come true, others for the novelty of being able to float one.

Upon touching water, the inori boshi light up. Ferry rides during the event were available as well, to allow visitors to view the lights up close and float theirs while on the ferry.

Tokyo Skytree after 7pm. The event is timed such that the inori boshi will be floating just past Tokyo Skytree when it lights up. A good chance to practice night photography. Remember to bring your monopods or tripods!

The lights are meant to re-create the scene of fireflies lighting up along the Sumida River long ago. This scene is associated with the image of summer coming in Japan.

With the thousands of fireflies floating on the river, they also became a mirror to the stars of our galaxy. The Japanese word for the Milky Way, 天の川 (amanogawa), literally means the ‘River of Heaven.’

Visitors can buy a light to toss into the river, however, they are not allowed to take the lights home. All lights will be re-used in other events held by the project committee.

The lights of the Tokyo Skytree turning off to prepare for the next event lined up!

The lighting of the boat along with the special lighting of Tokyo Skytree in conjunction with the Tokyo Hotaru Festival. This event is to wish for luck and show support for Japan’s 2020 Olympic bid.

The boat made a few loops in front of the tower before drifting away.

The special lighting Tokyo Skytree prepared in support of the event and the Olympic bid.

A group of ladies tossing (more like throwing baseball-style) their inori boshi into the river before they leave. The aim seems to be getting it as far as possible – which would explain the baseball-style throwing.

This event is part of the ‘Amanogawa Project’. A booth was set up to explain how the inori boshi were made and give more information about the project to visitors.

The 8.5 cm in diameter dome-shaped light is made up of a sensor, a solar panel, a battery and an LED light panel made by Panasonic. It takes 6 hours to fully charge the battery and it’s able to potentially power the LED light for up to 15 hours.

This is a spectacular event that you’ll have to see for yourself to feel the atmosphere. Thousands of LED dome-shaped lights resembling hotaru, or fireflies, are set floating down the river, and with Tokyo Skytree in the background, it is a night that anyone would remember. The Tokyo Hotaru Festival started in 2012, and due to overwhelming popularity it was held again this year on May 25. For a night, the Milky Way can be seen on Earth at the Sumida River in Asakusa.

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Sher Ying Wee

By Sher Ying Wee

Community writer

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