Tokyo, Japan - Stone lanterns in front of the Zōjō-ji temple which is a Buddhist temple in the neighbourhood of Minato in Tokyo. Many of these lanterns were in Chinese style and votive offerings by visitors. Unfortunately, most of the temple area was destroyed in World War 2. This rare picture shows the temple area around 15 years earlier.
Children living in makeshift tents light sky lanterns in the village of Betint as the civil war in Syria enters its 11th year. Idlib, Syria. Photograph: Muhammed Said/Anadolu Agency
This picture has the weirdest set of tags because I drew it as a sort of Terminator fanart and I used a photo of a temple in Chiang Mai as a reference.
As the lanterns rise up towards the unknown, they do so together. Their own flame fuels their ascent, but it’s the flames of their companions that illuminates their paths. Shaymin and Torterra’s festival celebrates the journey everybody took together to find this place.
These floating lanterns memorialize those that have passed away at Ala Moana Park in Honolulu, Hawaii. As the sun sets in the background, small boats with Buddhist monks and church volunteers help to launch and shepherd the small armada of lantern ships, each inscribed with sentiments from family and friends.
The Gion Matsuri, one of the three main festivals of Kyoto with the Aoi Matsuri and the Jidai Matsuri. This one takes place in July in Shijo, one of the main streets of Kyoto. I’ve never seen so many people gathered there at once! The street had been turned into a pedestrian zone for the occasion. It was so crowded thatmy bf and I got separated from our friends ten minutes after we arrived, and it was impossible for us to meet up again afterwards!
