The small city of Yanai in Yamaguchi Prefecture is famous for its lanterns, but they're a little different to many lanterns you've likely seen in the past. The lanterns here are shaped like goldfish, and you'll see them displayed outside shops, restaurants, and even personal residences in the area.
The unique lanterns are said to have first been created by a Yanai merchant in the Edo period who was said to have been inspired by lanterns at Aomori's Hirosaki Neputa Festival, and the rest is history.
An annual festival takes place in August to celebrate Yanai's longstanding tradition, with numerous goldfish lanterns decorating the JR Yanai Station and Shirakabe no Machi areas. As this year is the event's first return since the COVID era, it will be held on a smaller scale than in previous iterations – the usual fireworks and traditional dancing won't be held for 2022.
