2025: Obon Lantern Floating Ceremony - Okuribi: Honoring Ancestors by Launching Lanterns, Shofuso Japanese House and GardenNEW

2025 Obon Lantern Floating Ceremony - Okuribi. Obon is a series of Summer events in Japan based on Buddhist and ancestral worship that enshrine and celebrate the spirits of ancestors. Typically, people return to their hometowns to celebrate Obon each year. Families gather, clean their graveyard and the shrine in their house, and light lanterns to welcome the spirits home. Mukaebi is the welcoming fire, or the opening night of Obon. After the spirits spend a few days with family, the Bon-Odori dancers form a circle under the lanterns to guide the spirits back to the otherworld. This is the Okuribi, or culmination of Obon, when the ancestors are sent back to the spirit world.

Date
Saturday, August 16, 2025

Time
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center

Registration Information Coming Soon
Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia continues this important Shofuso tradition, to light lanterns and float them on Shofuso’s pond for Obon. This night of remembrance and commemoration is dedicated to those no longer with us. Each registered participant will be able to choose if they would like to launch floating lanterns on Shofuso’s pond or simply observe the serenity of the experience.

Details
Beginning at 7:30 PM, registered participants can launch floating lanterns on Shofuso’s pond to honor loved ones. Doors open right at 7:30 PM. There will be food and drinks for those in attendance. The cost of $35 includes a floating lantern. Observer (without lantern) is $25. Members must sign in to get $10 off at checkout.

**In case of inclement weather, the lantern floating will be held the following evening, August 17th at 7:30pm.

Philadelphia Shofuso Obon Dates

Philadelphia Obon Location
Shofuso Japanese House and Garden. Lansdowne Dr and Horticultural Dr., Philadelphia, PA 19131

Philadelphia Obon Title
Shofuso will Host Annual Philadelphia Obon Festival Event - Taiko, Tea Ceremony, Games, Crafts, Dance

Previous Year 2023

Shofuso celebrates the Obon Festival with bon odori folk dances by Seabrook Minyo Dance Group, and taiko drumming performances by KyoDaiko, Hoh Daiko (Seabrook Buddhist Temple) and Casual Fifth. Attendees can also enjoy arts and crafts, a yukata dressing station, as well as a vendor market. The event will take place outside of Shofuso and is free and open to the public.

Philadelphia Obon Festival
Obon is a Japanese celebration of one’s ancestors. Each August, people return to their hometowns to remember the dead and reunite with loved ones. Obon is celebrated with regional dances called bon odori along with dances and other cultural celebrations.

The Philadelphia Obon Festival includes bon odori folk dances with Seabrook Minyo Dance Group, and taiko drumming performances by KyoDaiko, Hoh Daiko (Seabrook Buddhist Temple) and Casual Fifth. Attendees can also enjoy arts and crafts, a yukata dressing station, as well as a vendor market. The event will take place outside of Shofuso and is free and open to the public. Regular admission is required to visit Shofuso, and a separate ticket is required to participate in the Obon Lantern Lighting Ceremony.

In the event of inclement weather, Obon will be rescheduled to Sunday, August 13.

Obon Festival Date
August 12, 2023, Saturday

Event Times (If it Rains, date August 13) 
3 pm - 7 pm: Bon Odori dancing, Live Taiko, Arts & Crafts, Yukata stations, Vendor Market
7 pm - 9 pm: Obon Lanterm LightingCeremony (below)

2023 Obon Lantern Lighting Ceremony

Lantern Ceremony - Mukaebi
Date: Saturday, August 12 (Rain date: Sunday, August 13)
Time: 7pm - 9pm
$30 Participant (with Lantern)
$29 Observer (Without Lantern)
Members must sign in to get $10 off at checkout.

Lantern Ceremony - Okuribi
Date: Saturday, August 19 (Rain date: Sunday, August 19)
Time: 7pm - 9pm
$30 Participant (with Lantern)
$20 Observer (Without Lantern)
Members must sign in to get $10 off at checkout.

Obon is a series of Summer events in Japan based on Buddhist and ancestral worship that enshrine and celebrate the spirits of ancestors. Typically, people return to their hometowns to celebrate Obon each year. Families gather, clean their graveyard and the shrine in their house, and light lanterns to welcome the spirits home. After the spirits spend a few days with family, the Bon-Odori dancers form a circle under the lanterns to guide the spirits back to the otherworld.

The Philadelphia Obon Festival continues a new Shofuso tradition, to light lanterns and float them on Shofuso’s pond. This night of remembrance and commemoration is dedicated to those no longer with us. Each registered participant will be able to choose if they would like to launch floating lanterns on Shofuso’s pond or simply observe the serenity of the experience.

Event Location
Shofuso, Lansdowne Dr & Horticultural Dr, Philadelphia, PA 19131, 215-878-5097

Event Tittle
The Annual Philadelphia Obon Festival (Launch Floating Lanterns on Shofuso’s Pond to Honor Loved Ones)

Replaced Title
2025: 13th Annual Philadelphia Obon Festival Event (Bon Odori, Taiko, Launch Floating Lanterns on Shofuso’s Pond to Honor Loved Ones)