I used to live in Japan and attended a few Dondo Matsuri's each year. The difference between what the article suggests and what happens in Japan, is that people take their own New Year decorations from their homes and burn them at the festival. It's a way of cleaning out their past year. People don't tend to leave these particular decorations anywhere.

I've always kinda liked the tree on the path to West Kennet Long Barrow, it reminds me of wishes tied to trees at temples and shrines all across Japan.