Paper Balloon Festival of Kamihinokinai

Each year on February 10, massive paper balloons with drawings of warriors, beautiful women, and other pictures are released into the midwinter night sky to convey new thoughts and prayers for the year to heaven. It is a wondrous sight to see almost 100 lit paper balloons soaring in the midwinter night sky. The large balloons are up to 12 meters tall, and the pictures are all hand-drawn. In recent years, some of the balloons have anime illustrations drawn on them. 
The paper balloons are constructed like hot air balloons and are released at any time between 18:00 to 20:30. When the release time approaches, the fire is lit within the large balloons, which causes the air in the area to heat up. Together with a shouted countdown, the massive paper balloons simultaneously soar into the night sky, creating a scene with dreamlike beauty. 
Since this is a midwinter night event, you should warm your cold body with hot local cuisine and a hot spring bath.