Sumida River Toro Nagashi Lantern-Floating Ceremony Set for August 15, 2026, in Asakusa

The Asakusa Tourism Federation joins Sumida City once again this year to hold the Sumida River Toro Nagashi (Lantern-Floating Ceremony) on Saturday, August 15, 2026, along both banks of the Sumida River. Footage of roughly 5,000 paper lanterns drifting from both shores has become popular on social media, drawing attention from viewers in Japan and abroad alike.

Where the Sumida River Fireworks Festival lights up the sky with a roar, this quieter counterpart is defined by lanterns swaying gently on the current and a hush of quiet prayer — an atmosphere that visitors from overseas have come to appreciate. Beyond honoring ancestors, participants can handwrite messages hoping for an end to conflicts around the world or for recovery from disasters, then release their own lantern onto the water, a hands-on touch that has helped make the event a favorite.

To shorten the wait for anyone hoping to float a lantern, this year's ceremony adds more launch platforms, split across two points along the river: one near the Tobu Railway bridge and another near Kototoi Bridge. More volunteers have also joined to help assemble the lanterns and light the candles inside them.

On-site lantern sales at the venue on the afternoon of August 15 are expected to draw long lines, so lanterns are also available in advance and on the day itself at two locations away from the venue: the central register counter on the first floor of Asakusa Matsuya, and the first-floor counter of the Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center. Both locations handle advance and same-day sales.

Lanterns can also be reserved online, rather than in person, through August 7. The same site handles volunteer sign-ups: https://e-asakusa.jp/

Event Overview