Handcrafted paper lanterns rooted in the ancient art of Japanese tōrō making. Each piece carries the spirit of Gion — a glow that bridges the mortal world and the sacred night.
"Light is not merely illumination —
it is memory, breath,
and the soul's quiet companion."
For over seven decades, Midnight Aurora Crest has preserved the craft of chochin and tōrō making in the heart of Kyoto's most storied district. Every lantern begins as a conversation between bamboo, washi paper, and the maker's hand.
We believe light should carry meaning. Our pieces are designed for shrines, festival processions, ceremonial gardens, and the quiet corners of homes that deserve something more than a fixture.
About Our Studio
Every lantern is formed using handmade kozo washi paper and hand-split bamboo ribs, following methods unchanged for three centuries.
Our designs draw from centuries of Shinto and Buddhist lantern iconography — from the tōrō of Kasuga Grand Shrine to the chochin of the Gion Matsuri.
Sourced from Echizen paper makers and Kyoto bamboo farmers, our materials are chosen for their luminosity, durability, and cultural provenance.
From a single garden tōrō to a full festival installation, our atelier accepts commissions tailored to your shrine, venue, or private residence.
Each lantern is wrapped in traditional Japanese hosokawa paper and dispatched via specialist art couriers. We ship to over 50 countries worldwide.
Every piece leaves our Gion atelier. We never outsource production. The hands that craft your lantern have spent years mastering a single art form.
Each piece in our collection is made to order at our Gion atelier. To enquire or place an order, call our studio or send us a message.
The quintessential chochin — accordion-folded washi over split-bamboo ribs. Hand-brushed kanji calligraphy on request. Available in 28 cm and 45 cm.
Low-profile snow-viewing lantern hand-carved from Mikage granite. Designed for garden ponds and raked gravel. Each piece is unique due to natural stone variation.
Inspired by the luminous forms of Isamu Noguchi — organic-shaped washi paper diffusers with a visible bamboo rib structure. Fitted with E26 LED socket.
Hexagonal lacquered-frame shrine lantern with crimson washi panels. Traditional candle-burning or modern LED insert available. Suitable for tokonoma display.
Rectangular standing andon with lacquered hinoki cypress frame and natural hosokawa washi. An elegant piece for tea rooms, entryways, or meditation spaces.
Hand-blown and hand-painted glass lantern with cherry blossom or wave motifs. Integrated LED candle. A luminous gift piece presented in a paulownia wood box.
Witness our lanterns in their truest element — the great festivals of Kyoto and beyond. Find us at these annual celebrations of light.
"The yukimi tōrō we commissioned for our garden feels as though it has always been there. The granite's warmth at dusk is something we now plan our evenings around."
"We dressed our ryokan with forty Edo chochin for the Obon season. Guests called it the most memorable atmosphere of their Japan journey."
"The andon floor lamp in our tea house has transformed the space completely. The paper carries the light with a softness that no electric fixture could replicate."
