Send your wishes to the stars! At the Kami-Hinokinai Paper Balloon Festival, you can do just that.

Looking for a bit of unique adventure? With a festival that started in the Edo Period (1603-1868) and still continues today, you’ve got a fascinating look back from current day into the past to the time of the samurai. For hundreds of years, messages praying for bountiful harvests and good health have been written on paper balloons, lit and then released to convey their wishes to the heavens

These are no ordinary balloons, however. Generally 3-8 meters in height, larger ones can reach 12 meters in height! The smaller ones are available for any visitors to write their own personal messages on. You, too, can send your wishes to the stars. The larger balloons have been worked on for months ahead of time and are launched by groups in an interesting launch ceremony.

You’ll see gorgeous historical artwork-inspired balloons as well as recent pop-culture influences such as Minions and Hello Kitty. Bundle up as it’s held annually on February 10th in Kami-Hinokinai, Semboku in Akita Prefecture, Japan. Enjoy this fascinating bit of local history at the Kami-Hinokinai Paper Balloon Festival.