Obon

On August 16th, there was a ceremony up at the river. I wasn't sure exactly what was going on, but heard there would be a lot of lights.

August 16th, was the end of Obon, a short time in Japan where people's ancestors visit them. For three days people celebrate their ancestors ghosts with their family. You can read about it here: click .

This ceremony took place at dusk, and is celebrated as a way to send ancestral ghosts away again. I heard lots of prayer and chanting before hundreds of people sent the spirits of their loved ones away, in a lantern, down the river.

It was quite beautiful.

Here's a short video: