Nagato Yumoto Onsen “Onshin River Utaakari 2024” Event Report (open until 3/3)

Nagato Yumoto Onsen Street lit up in winter

The "Otosurigawa Utaakari 2024" lighting event is currently underway (until March 3 (Sun.)) in the Nagato Yumoto hot spring resort area.

This year marks the sixth "Onshin River Uta Akari," which began in 2018. Various lighting effects will illuminate the hot spring resort area based on the theme of the works of Nagato City-born children's song poet, Misuzu Kaneko.

This page introduces nine highlights of the venue's lighting performance with photos.

The venue can also be seen in a reel video on the official "Nanavi" Instagram!Please take a look at this page as well.

1 "Phantom Light Ring Dance" / 2 "Tsunagu Akari

This production is held from the "Bamboo Staircase" at the entrance to the hot spring resort to the "Onyu-mae Ganki Hiroba" beyond the staircase. Various shadow puppets and lights appear as if dancing to the recitation of poems by Misuzu Kaneko and music. This year, English readings have been added to the program.

In the plaza next to the "Stairway of Bamboo Forest," "Tsunagu Akari" is being held, featuring a lineup of Akari motifs created by children from the neighboring city of Mine.

This is a wish to "connect to the future" for the JR Mine Line, which is operating an alternative bus service in the wake of the torrential rain disaster at the end of June last year.

3 "Misuzu's Garden" / 4 "Dokkari

At "Misuzu's Garden" in the "Lawn Square in front of Onyu", light motifs created by children from elementary and junior high schools in Nagato City are set up. The individuality of each child can be felt in the writing of the lights.

The "earthen light" using Hagiyaki lampshades is installed on the stairs of the "Onyu-mae Ganki Hiroba. Children from local elementary schools and artists from Hagiyaki Fukagawa Kiln cooperated to create this masterpiece.

On Saturdays during the festival, "OSOTO stalls" will be set up at "Onyu-mae Ganki Hiroba" (Wild Geese Park). In addition to a variety of food stalls that change weekly, visitors can also enjoy "bonfire & roasted marshmallows" by the river in the plaza.

(Marshmallows can be purchased in front of the stall.

5 "The Dream of the Fishes"

In the "Fish Dream Area," fish lights created by kindergarten and nursery school children in the city are placed.

6 "Waterfront Wreath"/7 "Mr. Misuzu's Mosaic Mural"

Various large motifs have been installed along the river in the hot spring resort area as "waterfront wreaths. These were created by local residents and various others who participated in the Nagato Yumoto Onsen community development workshop. In addition, "Misuzu's" mosaic mural, a mosaic painting by Misuzu Kaneko that covers the entire wall of the event space "engawa YUMOTO" is illuminated.

8 "Kotori no staircase"/9 "Maboroshi akari

Near the stairs on the south side of the hot spring resort area, a light motif of origami cranes has been installed as "Kotori no staircase". The theme of this staircase is "Origami Asobi," a poem by Misuzu Kaneko. In addition, "Virtual Uta Akari Maboroshi Akari" is newly installed at Ichinose Bridge near "Kotori no Stairway" this year.

When the installed 2D barcode is read with a smartphone and held over the Onshin River, an illuminated wreath will appear on the screen.

JR Massage Trip" campaign

Original andon (lanterns), "Lights of Remembrance," created in collaboration with JR West Japan for the "JR Massage Trip" project, will be installed at the venue.

→Click here for more details about the campaign.

Related Links

Official website of "Ontoshin River Utaakari 2024