The other night I had the most wonderful experience. I went to the To-Kae summber festival in Nara.
About 3:00 a couple friends and I darned our yukata or summer kimonos, did our hair and headed out. It about an hour to arrive at Nara Station.
The trip was uncomfortable in many ways at first. For one thing, the traditional yukata when tied properly was more like the Japanese version of a corset. There are two strips of fabric that keep a kimono in place before the obi or large sash is tied around. The first strip is used to set the length of the yukata and is tied around the waist, very tightly I might add.
The second strip is used to keep the top section of the kimono in place. This strip allows for the neckline and back to be perfectly strait and flat. This strip is tied above the ribs just below the chest. It too was synched tighter than a noose.
Finally the obi wraps arournd the yukata and is carefully folded and managed into a bow.
Honestly, it looked so pretty that I didn't care how it felt. After my back went numb the rest of the night was fine.
After arriving at the festival area the sun had just begun to set. Hundreds of people began to light and place candles along the paths to the temples and lakes. Lanterns were lit and they hung in every direction.
As our stomechs growled, we decided that the first thing to do was investigate the local street food. Yaki soba (fried noodles), Karage (fried chiken), castella cakes (soft cakes filled with red beans or custard), takoyaki (octopus), yaki niku (grilled meat), shaved ice, and grilled squid were just some of the options.
We tried almost all of them. Fantastically delicious!
After refueling, we wandered in the direction of everyone else who seemed to know where the action was. We wandered through a small park with candle and lantern lit pathways. The path meandered around a small lake where a gazebo sat in the center and glowed with candle light. As we crossed the wooden bridge to the other side of the lake we stopped to enjoy the reflection that the hundreds of flames made in the water. Couples took small row boats out onto the water. They were each guided by two hanging lanterns. We all made a mental note to return here with boyfriends.
After the lake, we strolled slowly to Nara Park where thousands of candles sat shining. They all drew shapes in the cool grass. Shapes of flowers, deer, kanji symbols, and even the shape of a clock with working hands ticking away.
All the thousands of warm flames gave off a feeling of serenity and joy.
The night ended there and we walked back to the station with happy hearts and pictures in our cameras. The pictures hardly did the beautiful scene justice.
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