In late June 2026, the lanterns were removed from the Lantern Hall at Omiya Shrine as part of renovation work to update its exhibits.
The removal work was carried out by the community group "Toro-den wo Kangaeru Kai."

Have you heard of the "Agari Toro"?

[Overview]
The ‘Agari Tōrō’—the grand finale of the Yamaga Lantern Festival
The ‘Agari Tōrō’, a traditional Shinto ritual with a history spanning some 600 years, is a sacred ceremony held at 10.00 pm on 16 August, during which Yamaga lanterns donated by local parishioners, businesses and organisations are presented to Ōmiya Shrine.
Accompanied by the townspeople’s chants of ‘Hai, torō! Hai, torō!’, the lanterns are carried one after another to the shrine; after the offering, the lights lined up in the shrine grounds create a magical atmosphere.
The festival draws to a close at midnight with the ‘Descending Lanterns’ ceremony.
Expressing gratitude to the deities and praying for the peace and prosperity of the community—this ‘Ascending Lanterns’ ceremony is the very essence of the Yamaga Lantern Festival.
One cannot truly speak of the Yamaga Lantern Festival without witnessing this.
In this way, the "Agari Toro" is an event that brings together the hopes, dedication, and passion of many townspeople.

Approximately 30 lanterns were carried out of the Lantern Hall at Omiya Shrine by the townspeople of Yamaga.　
Many people may not know this, but the lanterns displayed in the Lantern Hall are newly created and dedicated each year by local townspeople and businesses. As a result, the exhibits change from year to year.

The current renovation work to update the exhibits is scheduled to continue through late July 2026. After the renovation is completed, the lanterns dedicated in 2025 will be returned to the Lantern Hall. They will then be newly dedicated during the Yamaga Lantern Festival on August 16, 2026.

This is the first major renovation of the Lantern Hall in approximately 60 years.
The renovated exhibition space will be transformed into an entirely new environment, unlike anything seen before.
We hope you will look forward to seeing the new Lantern Hall!