Yamaga City is located in northern Kumamoto Prefecture, bordering Fukuoka City and Oita Prefecture. It is famous throughout the country for its annual "Yamaga Lantern Festival".
And this year's lantern season is just around the corner!
The lantern festival is held annually on August 15th and 16th at Omiya Shrine in Yamaga City.
Legend has it that when Emperor Keiko was touring Kyushu , he encountered a dense fog and lost his way. The local residents took up torches and guided Emperor Keiko and his entourage to Ōmiya Shrine . During the Muromachi period, the lanterns were transformed into gold-paper lanterns, and later the "Yamagata Lantern Dance," in which women dance with gold lanterns on their heads, was created, as well as the "Senjin Lantern Dance," which became synonymous with the festival.
Paper lanterns, currently designated as a "National Traditional Craft," can only be made by a very small number of "Yamagata Lantern Makers." It is said that becoming a skilled lantern maker requires over 10 years of training—a demanding world requiring exceptional skills and expertise. 
The festival lasts for two days each year, and the first day is said to feature a spectacular fireworks display, bringing a lively atmosphere to this usually quiet town.
On the afternoon of the event, major roads will be closed for traffic control.
There are also many festival stalls and food vendors near the event venue, which I highly recommend checking out!!
The most famous of these is the "Yamagata Thousand Lantern Dance," performed by a thousand women.
The flickering candlelight and dreamlike setting are sure to attract visitors' attention! 
This year's ticketing information has also been released.
Ticketing Information:
Tickets will be available for pre-order on Rakuten Tickets starting at 10:00 AM on June 16, 2025. See the link below for details.
楽天チケット
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Source of information and images:
Wikipedia
Yamaga visits Nano
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