Lovers of original cultural experiences, we were lucky enough to take part in the preview of the Festival des Lanternes “Le Japon en Lumières“: the not-to-be-missed event at the Jardin d’Acclimatation is back with a new luminous itinerary. This time, it’s the Land of the Rising Sun that takes center stage, with a festival that combines tradition and modernity. 2,000 lanterns, food courts featuring Japanese specialties, sumo matches on giant screens… You’ve been warned: total immersion and immediate escape.
Le Japon en Lumières, the Jardin d’Acclimatation Lantern Festival, kicks off!
This year, more than ever, the Jardin d’Acclimatation puts the spotlight on light in a new edition of its Lantern Festival “Le Japon en Lumières” from its green setting in the 16ᵉ arrondissement.
As soon as you arrive on site, you’re immediately caught up in the reverberation of the place. The tour is laid out in three stages: the Empire of Traditions marked by torii, temples, traditional costumes, silk parasols and samurai; the Pop-modern Odyssey, its explosion of color, neon, populated by kawai characters, arcade games and manga ; and the Garden of Songs, which inspires serenity with its sakuras in bloom, koi carp that slip away beneath our footsteps, and the high point of the tour: Mount Fuji.
It all builds to a crescendo, as we move from the Zen atmosphere of a Shinto shrine to the high energy of Tokyo’s Shibuya district. The hand-crafted sets are simply impressive in their realism. It’s simple: you want to stop at every new illumination to immortalize the moment. Designed to amaze the whole family, the tour allows younger visitors to interact with some of the installations like photocalls. In short, all our senses are stimulated, not forgetting our taste buds!
You know what they say: after effort, comfort. At the end of the trail, gourmet chalets await visitors. Foodcourts range from Japanese specialties such as gyozas, yakitoris, sando chicken and mochi, to winter comfort foods like raclette sandwiches, crêpes and waffles… There’s something for everyone.
Among the Christmas markets and light trails to try out this season, this is one of the must-see events of the moment. A quiet stroll to unwind after work, an original weekend outing, a romantic plan, a jaunt with friends, family or even solo… It’s the perfect plan to get off the beaten track and travel without leaving Paris!