Summer Festivals in Japan - Nara's Tenposai

Heiankyo on a regular day

Transformed for the Tenposai festival

Fun for the kids

This is what Nara's (the first capital of Japan) Heiankyo looks like on a regular day but for the last weekend in August was Tenposai, a unique festival combining culture and art that attracts big crowds.  Sumire and Daddy went to check it out (Mommy had to work).

an 'interactive shadow display' put on by a local university art department

even cooler as it got darker

all hand-lit candles

lots of lights

Sumire in her yukata (like a summer kimono)

the best I could do without a tripod

a performance from traditional instruments

temples and laser shows - a combination I had never seen before

Sumire and her balloon yo-yo

my favorite photo of the night!