Gozan no Okuribi

Daimonji Gozan no Okuribi (also known as the “Daimonji Festival”) is a bonfire festival held on August 16 each year which sees five fires lit on the mountains around Kyoto. The festival is a culminating event of the Obon holiday in Japan, where the spirits of ancestors are said to visit the homes of their living relatives. The fires of the Daimonji Festival are said to guide these spirits back to the heavens at the end of their short stay.

The first fire, in the shape of the character for “big” (大), is lit at 8:00 PM, following which two other characters, a boat, and a torii gate are set alight in five-minute intervals. These fires can be seen throughout Kyoto City, but the banks of the Kamo River are the recommended spot to see the first “dai” bonfire. Because the illumination relies on darkness, major advertisements and some streetlights across the city are dimmed to improve visibility during the 30-minute burning window.

The Kamo River banks between Marutamachi and Imadegawa bridges reach maximum capacity hours before sunset, so those seeking a spot on the grass should arrive by early afternoon. Road closures are extensive across central Kyoto, and bus services are frequently diverted or suspended along the river and mountain approaches; as a result, the Karasuma and Tozai subway lines are the only reliable way to move through the city on the night. It is also important to note that many hotels and restaurants with mountain views require private reservations made months in advance to access their balconies during the lighting sequence.