Lantern Festival @ Kintai Bridge

Had to take a picture of the "Chicago Pizza" delivery guy!
This is wrong on so many different levels

Lanterns...we are getting closer

Hmm, a taco truck in Japan

Jon and the Taco Truck



"Garage Wonderland"
We had no idea what they were selling, just liked the name of it!



Emcee of the fashion show

Upcoming fall fashion

More of the fashion show

The oldest models of the fashion show
The man is wearing traditional Japanese Pj's
over a suit..only in Japan!

This green guy is everywhere in Japan
Is he part of Hello Kitty's crew?

This was part of a story we think
They love their fog machines

Kintai Bridge
Just after the sun went down, before all the lanterns

On Sunday July 24th, we headed over to the Kintai Bridge for the Lantern Festival. According to a translated version of the program, the Lantern/Light Festival is a way for the people of Iwakuni City to share the Kintai Bridge with out-of-town guests in both the daylight and night. The festival was free (yea!), except for buying lanterns. Of course we bought 2....really needed 4 to get the full effect, but 2 is enough.
There was activities all day at the Kintai, starting with a flea market. We arrived just after 7:00pm, and there were food vendors everywhere...we have no idea what the food was, but they were there. A big part of the festival is a fashion show...well the Japanese call it fashion. The clothes were interesting, but it made for good entertainment. After the fashion show, there was some sort of story played out with 3 women, a lot of gold and silver glittery clothing, and masks. We have no idea what it was, as it was all in Japanese. Finally the stage shows were done, and the lanterns were lit. Those that paid extra, were escorted to the bridge, and allowed to walk across it to span the entire bridge. Once everyone was across, the bridge lights were turned off, and the bridge was illuminated by lanterns.