Miyama Kayabuki no Sato Snow Lantern Festival

The weeks from late January to early February each year bring an event of sheer magic to Kayabuki no Sato, a nestled Miyama village in the mountains of northern Kyoto. Coined the Miyama Kayabuki no Sato Snow Lantern Festival, expect a special time first started by the locals in celebration of the onset of deep snow season.

Festival time brings a glitter of lights to the entire village, complete with snow lanterns, street lanterns, LED lanterns, and hanging paper lanterns. The famed thatched-roof houses are also threaded with lights for a dreamy scene of snow-capped village life that glows like a Japanese folktale.

Incite your crafty side with a bonus chance to make your own snow lantern (rental fees for tools apply). With provided buckets and shovels, you can create a unique snow lantern, and add your own piece to the display of exquisite wintry bliss.

Throughout the event, food stalls serve warm dishes made with local ingredients, so you can enjoy a bite and get back to all the joys of this picturesque setting. A five-minute firework display is also scheduled for late January each year, so be sure to check the schedule before planning your visit.