Recently, I went to the Chichibu Night Festival in Chichibu, a region in Saitama, Japan. It’s quite unusual to have a festival in December, which made the experience even more special. Despite the winter cold, the warm glow of the fires and the bright lights from the food stalls created an atmosphere that felt surprisingly lively and cozy. The fireworks were launched into the crisp night sky, and they looked incredibly beautiful. I played a shooting-gallery game, enjoyed some takoyaki and yakisoba, and sipped on amazake—a sweet, warm drink that felt perfect on such a chilly night. It was a wonderfully relaxing and heartwarming experience. I hadn’t had the chance to go to any festivals earlier this year, so being able to visit one at the very end of the year made me genuinely happy. I’ve always associated festivals with summer—crowds of people gathering in the heat, with music and excitement filling the warm air. That was the image I’d always had in mind. But this time, experiencing a festival in winter gave me a new perspective. There was something wonderful about people standing close together, sharing the cold, and enjoying the moment under the winter sky. The contrast between the cold air and the warm lights made everything feel magical. Going to the Chichibu Night Festival reminded me that festivals can be enjoyed in many different ways, and that winter celebrations have a charm of their own. It was a memorable way to end the year.