*Baikamo* in bloom and the lantern-floating ceremony
I visited the Jizo River in Samegai, Maibara City, Shiga Prefecture, Japan several times this year to see the *Baikamo* (Japanese river water-crowfoot) in bloom, but the highlight is the "Manto-nagashi" (floating lantern ceremony) that serves as the finale of the Samegai Jizo Festival, starting at 8:00 PM on August 24th. Lanterns drift down the *Baikamo*-growing river, creating a truly spectacular sight as their lights reflect on the water's surface. First of all, I would like to introduce *Baikamo* (Japanese river water-crowfoot). These are *Baikamo* flowers in bloom at Jizo-river. *Baikamo* only grows in rivers with cold, clean, flowing water. The Jizo-river filled with colonies of*Baikamo*. For reference, *Baikamo* (Japanese river water-crowfoot) does not grow nearly as densely at the location where the lantern-floating ceremony takes place. Many tourists visit to see the blossoms of*Baikamo*. They are eagerly taking photographs with their smartphones and digital SLR ...
