The Potomac River at the National Harbor is glowing this weekend as Sakura Sunday and the Water Lantern Festival bring a vibrant celebration of spring to the waterfront.Sakura Sunday, an official ...

Like the curved corners of classical Japanese roofs, the houju wards off evil spirits, protecting the rest of the lantern. Kasa Meaning “umbrella,” it keeps weather off the firebox below.

The lantern festival at Manpukuji temple also commemorates the 350th anniversary of the death of its founder, Yin Yuan (1592-1673), as he is called in Chinese. Japanese know him as Ingen.