With three weeks to go until the event on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 August, the organising committee met on 29 July at Togo Community Centre.
Leaders from each district went through the arrangements one by one — the lights, parking, buses, and visitor safety. There was plenty to discuss, and the meeting ran well over time.
Here is what was decided that matters most to visitors.
The “Karamon-go” shuttle will run into the night, just for Mantouya
On weekends and holidays, a free shuttle called the “Karamon-go” circles the Ichijodani Asakura Clan Ruins during the day. On both Mantouya days, it will keep running into the night.
It will run from around 5:30 p.m. until the 9 p.m. hour, roughly every 20 minutes, linking the Ichijodani Asakura Clan Ruins Museum, the Shimokido Gate Ruins, Ichijodani Restaurant, the Restored Townscape and Parking Lot 4.
During the day the Karamon-go turns around at the Restored Townscape, but on both Mantouya days it continues to Parking Lot 4. If you park there, you can ride the Karamon-go around the site.
Ichijodani stretches a long way from north to south — about 2.6 km end to end. If you would love to see the lights further along but are not sure about the walk, hop on the Karamon-go. It is free.
The stops and boarding points are shown on maps on our website. Tap a stop name to open the map for that boarding point.
▼Karamon-go route and bus stops
https://mantouya.jp/en/shuttle-en
From Fukui Station to the venue: shuttle buses will run too
Shuttle buses will run between Fukui Station East Exit and the venue on both days. Staff will be at the East Exit to show you to the boarding point.
If you are coming by car, please also see our parking guide. Live camera images of each car park let you check how busy they are.
▼Shuttle bus timetable and stops
https://mantouya.jp/en/shuttle-en
▼Parking guide
https://mantouya.jp/en/parking-en
The giant kanji, children’s message cups, and seven paths of light
This year again, cups of candlelight will form a giant character — the “Ichimonji” — on the hillside.
Cups decorated by local schoolchildren will line the grounds as well. At their desks, pens in hand, the cups are plain and white. But at night, when the candles are lit, every drawing and every word glows from within.
A new feature, the “Seven Paths of Light”, is also in the works — seven ribbons of light drawn across an area of 12 by 18 metres.
The lights stand one metre apart. Every one of those rows is placed by hand, one cup at a time.
▼How Mantouya began
https://mantouya.jp/en/mantouya-en
Fireworks at 8:30 p.m.
On the 22nd, the opening ceremony is followed by a yosakoi dance performance. As it ends, the countdown begins — and at 8:30 p.m. the fireworks go up.
Lights at your feet, fireworks overhead. The two come together only once, on the night of the 22nd.
▼Programme for both days
https://mantouya.jp/en/event-en
Three weeks to go
Two nights when more than 15,000 lights illuminate the Sengoku-era capital. We look forward to seeing you.
You can also watch videos of past Mantouya nights.
Echizen Asakura Mantouya 2026
Sat 22 – Sun 23 August 2026
Venue: Ichijodani Asakura Clan Ruins
Free admission