An event of Buddhist ceremony in which paper lanterns are floated on the sea is held on every August 17 on Tassha Beach in SADO Island.
Local people prepare paper lanterns for this special day, and write their family names on them.
On the beach, old wooden stupas were burnt and local people put their papter lanterns on a boat.
These lanterns are carried out to the sea and put there, and beautiful lanterns flow away.
We believe that the souls of our ancestors who come back to visit us during O-bon* will go back to heaven on the lanterns.
*Japanese traditional event to welcome the sprits of ancestors. In general, O-bon is from August 13th to 16th. During the Obon holiday, people go back to their hometowns and visit their family graves.
Mearai Jizo
Address : Tassha, Sado, Niigata 952-2135Access : Approx 60mins by carfrom Ryotsu Port
Bus stop : Senkakuwan Tassha on Kaifu Line and 3mins walk from the bus stop
Parking : There is a little space to park in the neighborhood
