Kyoto Ablaze with Five-Mountain Bonfire Ceremony

Aug 17, 2026 | News On Japan

KYOTO - Kyoto's traditional Gozan Okuribi bonfire ceremony was held on the night of August 16, lighting the skies above the ancient capital as residents marked the end of the Obon season by sending off the spirits of their ancestors.

At 8 p.m., fires were lit in prepared hearths on Mount Nyoigatake in the city's Higashiyama area, gradually revealing a giant character for "dai," or "large," measuring as much as 160 meters along one side.

Gozan Okuribi is a traditional Kyoto event held during Obon to bid farewell to the spirits of ancestors who are believed to have returned to visit their families.

Fires were lit on five mountains surrounding Kyoto, with the first giant character followed by other formations including "Myoho" and a boat-shaped design.

The glowing displays gently illuminated Kyoto's summer night sky for around 30 minutes, while spectators quietly watched the fiery characters and reflected on the traditional Obon observance.

Source: YOMIURI

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