Rengakan Illumination 2014: Cultural Adventure

Rengakan Illumination is an illumination event held at Rengakan or Brick Museum (煉瓦館) in 1 Chome-10-1 Gomonnishi, Kumatori Town, Osaka Prefecture in Japan every first of December until the twenty-fifth of December.

Rengakan Illumination

Rengakan Illumination 2014 Details

Rengakan Illumination is known for the different presentations by different schools in the area. These presentations include performing bands, choirs, and individual presentations. There are also arts and illumination exhibits and also some interactive activities.

Rengakan Illumination - Kumatori, Osaka Prefecture

The illuminated pathway to Rengakan

Light up your heart...

Ella seems to enjoy the Rengakan Illumination Festival

The performing children's choir

One of the food stalls around

Lining up for some authentic Japanese food.

Any special event would not be complete without food... And that is always present during the Rengakan Illumination. Rengakan has some unique food stores which I fondly call the "vehicle restaurants". These food stalls are actually vehicles with makeshift kitchens at their back. You could buy their food like takoyaki, barbecue and many more. If you don't like these quick meals then you could order food from the "regular" food stores in Rengakan. It's a bit pricier than the food sold at the "vehicle restaurants" though.

The darkroom activity. Featuring aquatic animals

Student-designed display

An old printing machine

An important pagoda used during festivities

Going back to the Rengakan Illumination event, what I like most about this year's event is the darkroom activity. It is where kids (and kids at heart) could draw on the installed wall canvases (cartolina) using light-up pens. I enjoyed it so much because I saw my little princess enjoying every moment of the activity. I did some drawings too but my daughter's giggles were priceless.

Nope that's not Hachiko

 Aside from that, the candles used for illumination bring life to the plain pathways and wide spaces of Rengakan. However, my daughter enjoyed blowing these candles to the point that the organizers had to go back and forth to light it up. (Sorry guys my baby thought it was her birthday). The Christmas lights also played an important role in adding effects to the brick facade of the Rengakan. 

Ready... set... blow!

Overall, the Rengakan Illumination is a great event to bond with your family and friends without worrying about any rigorous activities. We got to visit the Rengakan Illumination event during the 2nd day of our 2014-2015 Japan adventure.

Why experience the Rengakan Illumination of Kumatori?

The Rengakan Illumination might not be as grand as the other illumination festivals in Japan, but it offers an amazing experience to see musical performances, try out the food, and bond with your friends while enjoying the colorful lights placed in the Rengakan.

Getting to Rengakan:

 

From Kansai International Airport, walk to Kansai Airport Station and board the Nankai-Limited Express Rapit Beta 30Toll Limited Express Nankai-Namba and board down at Izumisano Station. 

From there walk for about a minute to the Izumisano bus station and ride bus (熊取山手線) to Gomon Station. From there walk to Rengakan.

Fare: 860 yen
Travel time: 35 minutes
Location: 1-chōme-10-1 Gomonnishi, Kumatori, Sennan District, Osaka 590-0415, Japan

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