Fujifilm XF 10-24mm at Mitama Festival 2018

Rows of glowing yellow lanterns with black calligraphy, captured with a Fujifilm XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS lens.
A few of the 30,000 lanterns

I discovered this set of photos of the Mitama Festival 2018 at Yasukuni Shrine while going through my archives. They don’t have a specific theme; they’re more like a collection of individual moments and random details from that summer night. I wanted to share them here as a visual postscript to my other articles. But I have one thing to say.

Walls of yellow lanterns line a stone path leading to a massive bronze torii gate under a bright, sunny sky.
Late afternoon, but the crowds still haven’t appeared.
Crowds between massive walls of glowing lanterns and a torii gate, shot with a Fujifilm XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS.
The Fujifilm XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS can fit alot into the frame.

Shooting with the Fujifilm 10-24mm

When I checked the EXIF information during processing I noticed I had used the Fujifilm XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS. Using a wide-angle for a festival was unusual for me. Now I remember that night. I had done some indoor architecture photography several days before and had only used that lens. I think you can guess the rest.

Indonesian dancers in blue and gold costumes perform on an outdoor wooden stage framed by lush green trees.
Indonesian dancers performed at Mitama Festival 2018.
Close-up of glowing yellow lanterns with Japanese text, captured with a Fujifilm XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS.
Crowds walk between massive walls of yellow lanterns toward a torii gate, shot with a Fujifilm XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS.

Upon arrival at Yasukuni Shrine for the festival, I thought I needed a longer lens and reached into my bag for it. Well, it wasn’t there because it was still in my lens drawer. What a dummy! That night I cursed myself numerous times. Without it, I couldn’t get a good shot of the mikoshi.

Close-up of glowing yellow lanterns with black calligraphy, captured with a Fujifilm XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS.
Performers in red robes form a human pyramid before a massive wall of glowing lanterns at a Japanese festival.
Crowds between massive walls of glowing lanterns and a torii gate, shot with a Fujifilm XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS.
The Fujifilm XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS can fit alot into the frame.

The 10-24mm is a good lens but with an aperture of only F4 it isn’t great for low-light photography, but it did have OIS (Optical Image Stabilization). Of course, the lens lacks reach. I couldn’t zoom in far enough to get details of anything. But I could only work with what I had.

Rows of glowing yellow lanterns illuminate a Japanese shrine courtyard under a deep blue twilight sky.
Crowds gather under colorful streamers and glowing lanterns at night, shot with a Fujifilm XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS.
Crowds in happi coats gather beside high walls of glowing lanterns, shot with a Fujifilm XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS.

Wide angle festival photography

Short zooms are better for festivals, but looking at these photos in 2026, I found the wide-angle perspective interesting. Granted, some images looked a little soft in the corner, but that is okay. Others, with some cropping, turned out quite well. When I attend my next Mitama Festival, the Canon RF 16mm will be in my bag. Of course, the 24-105mm will be there too! Then I will have the best of both worlds.

A towering torii gate frames a traditional Japanese shrine as crowds gather in the courtyard under a soft evening sky.
The numbers of visitors increase as the sun goes down.
People walk past rows of glowing yellow lanterns along a path, shot with a Fujifilm XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS.
A large crowd at a night festival surrounds a lit monument with spotlights and rows of glowing yellow lanterns.

For a full guide on the festival’s history, what to expect, and more curated photo essays, visit my Yasukuni Shrine hub page. Hope you enjoyed this quick trip back in time!

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