Japanese Stone Lantern Lighting Ceremony - Washington DC

Japanese Stone Lantern Lighting Ceremony is a formal ceremonial lighting of the Japanese Stone Lantern near the cherry blossom trees on the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC. The lantern was carved 360 years ago and was first lit in 1651 to honor the Third Shogun of the Tokugawa period. It was given to the City of Washington as a gift in 1954 and symbolizes friendship and peace between Japan and the United States. The lantern is lit only once each year during the National Cherry Blossom Festival. The ceremony is free and open to the public.

Date and Time: April 8, 2012, 3:00 p.m. Prelude music begins at 2:30 p.m.

Location: North side of the Tidal Basin, at the west end of Kutz Bridge at Independence Avenue and 17th Street, SW. See a map. In the event of severe weather, the ceremony will take place at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial’s auditorium at the ceremonial entrance to Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Virginia.