Kyoto · Kyoto
Kurama Fire Festival
鞍馬の火祭
A mountain village filled with burning pine torches — held on the same night as Jidai Matsuri.
Next
22 October 2027
364 days away
Every year, 22 October
Future dates: 22 October 2027 · 22 October 2028 · 22 October 2029
Origin
When the deity of Yuki was moved out of the troubled capital to Kurama in the Heian period, the village is said to have met the procession with torches. The light raised to receive a god simply became the festival itself.
What to look for
It starts at dusk with small torches outside each house and builds, as the night deepens, to torches weighing hundreds of kilos carried up a narrow village lane. The distance between the fire and the crowd is startlingly small; you do not watch this one so much as get caught up in it.
How to watch
Sparks carry — avoid synthetic clothing. The lane is narrow and marshals impose one-way flow; follow their instructions without argument. If you plan to do this and Jidai Matsuri in one day, do not underestimate the travel time.
Where
Yuki Shrine, Kurama
Kyoto, Kyoto
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