The Gozan Okuribi (Five Mountains Fire Festival) is a traditional Kyoto summer event held annually on August 16th, where large bonfires are lit on five mountains throughout the city to send off ancestral spirits back to the afterlife. Visitors gather to observe the illuminated characters and shapes—including the famous large character (daimonji) on Mount Nyoigadake and four other formations on surrounding mountains—each lit at staggered intervals between 8:00 PM and 8:20 PM. This UNESCO-registered intangible cultural heritage event has been maintained by local community preservation societies since at least the Edo period.
Some links are affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. See our Terms.
