Okuribi

Overview

The Kyoto Gozan Okuribi, also known as the Five Mountain Bonfires, is a large-scale fire festival held annually on the night of August 16th, where giant characters and shapes are lit on five mountains surrounding Kyoto City. The five bonfires are the Daimonji (Great Character) on Higashiyama Nyoigatake, the Myo and Ho characters on Matsugasaki Nishiyama and Higashiyama, the Funagata Boat Shape on Nishigamo Funayama, the Hidari Daimonji Left Great Character on Kinugasa Okitayama, and the Torii-gata Shrine Gate Shape on Saga Mandarayama. These fires are lit sequentially from 8:00 PM, illuminating the mountain slopes until late at night.

This event carries a Buddhist significance as the final ritual of the Obon season, sending off the ancestral spirits who were welcomed into the mortal world by the Mukaebi welcoming fires back to the pure land of the afterlife. It is cherished as a symbol marking the end of summer in Kyoto. The Gozan Okuribi has been designated as an intangible folk cultural property of Kyoto City since October 1983, with each of the five bonfires individually recognized. Currently, preservation societies in each mountain community are responsible for the lighting ceremonies and firewood management, and on December 1, 2025, the Gozan Okuribi Federation was reorganized as a general incorporated foundation to ensure the stable continuation of this tradition.

History and Origins

The origins of the Gozan Okuribi vary among the five mountains, but reliable contemporary records are scarce, and most accounts are based on later traditions and speculation. The earliest known literary reference appears in the diary of court noble Funabashi Hidekata, titled Keicho Nikkenroku, in an entry dated July 16, 1603. The passage reads, In the evening, I went to the Reizei Tei, and saw the mountains burning fires, then went out to the eastern riverbank to view them. This description of mountains burning fires is believed to refer to the Daimonji and other bonfires visible from the Kamo River.

In the 1662 publication Annai-sha by Nakagawa Kiun, specific names such as Myo, Ho, Funagata, and Daimonji appear, indicating that at least three of the five current bonfires were already established by that time. The same text states that the Daimonji character was based on the calligraphy of Sanmiin no Tsubone, referring to the court noble Konoe Nobutada (1565-1614). This suggests that even in the early Edo period, the theory that the Daimonji character was derived from Nobutada's handwriting was already circulating. However, since the author Nakagawa Kiun was born in 1636, relatively close to Nobutada's death in 1614, scholars consider the possibility that this attribution was later fabricated.

Three major theories exist regarding the origin of the Daimonji. The first theory attributes the creation to the Buddhist monk Kukai (Kobo Daishi) during the early Heian period. According to this tradition, when the Jodoji Temple at the foot of the mountain caught fire, the main statue of Amida Buddha flew to the mountaintop and emitted a brilliant light. Kukai is said to have transformed this light into the shape of the character dai. However, since no records of the Daimonji exist until the early modern period, this is considered a folk legend recorded in works such as the Miyako Meisho Zue. The second theory attributes the Daimonji to the Muromachi period shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa. According to the Yamashiro Meiseki-shi, Yoshimasa ordered his retainer Haga Kamon to design the character, with guidance from the Zen monk Yokuan Keisen of Shokokuji Temple, to pray for the repose of his deceased son Yoshihisa. Recent discoveries of historical documents from Ginkakuji Temple, proving that Daimonji Mountain was part of the temple's estate, have led local preservationists to consider this theory the most plausible.

Regarding the Myo and Ho characters of Matsugasaki, the temple tradition of Yusenji Temple at the foot of the mountain states that in 1306, during the late Kamakura period, the monk Nichizo, a disciple of Nichiren, converted the villagers of Matsugasaki to the Nichiren sect. Nichizo is said to have traced the character myo on the western mountain and lit it with fire. The character ho on the eastern mountain was later added by Nichiryo, the second patriarch of Daimyoji Temple, a subtemple of Yusenji. The fact that the myo character is written in cursive script while the ho character is in clerical script suggests that the two characters were not created simultaneously. The Funagata Boat Shape bonfire is associated with the legend of Jikaku Daishi Ennin, the founder of Saihoji Temple. According to tradition, during his return voyage from Tang China, Ennin encountered a violent storm. He threw a piece of cloth inscribed with Namu Amida Butsu into the sea, and the storm immediately subsided, allowing him to return safely to Japan.

Highlights

Daimonji on Higashiyama Nyoigatake The Daimonji is the most representative of the five bonfires and the best-known among the public. The fire bed consists of 75 pits, with the first stroke measuring 80 meters, the second stroke 160 meters, and the third stroke 120 meters, forming a giant character dai on Mount Nyoigatake at an elevation of 466 meters. At 8:00 PM, as buildings throughout the city dim their lights in unison, the fire is ignited simultaneously from the central area called Kanawa, and the character emerging sharply against the night sky creates a solemn and majestic atmosphere.

Myo and Ho on Matsugasaki Nishiyama and Higashiyama The character myo is lit on the western mountain with 103 fire pits spanning approximately 100 meters in both directions, while the character ho on the eastern mountain has 63 fire pits spanning approximately 70 meters. These two characters together form a pair representing the sacred title Namu Myoho Renge Kyo of the Lotus Sutra, deeply connected to the Nichiren sect's faith. After the lighting, the Odori Nembutsu dance is performed at Yusenji Temple at the foot of the mountain, adding a religious dimension to the bonfire event.

Funagata Boat Shape on Nishigamo Funayama The Funagata bonfire depicts a boat sailing toward the western pure land, with the bow pointing westward, symbolizing the journey of ancestral spirits to the afterlife. The fire bed measures approximately 200 meters horizontally, with the mast height reaching about 90 meters, and consists of 79 fire pits. After the lighting, Rokusai Nembutsu is performed at Saihoji Temple at the foot of the mountain, a folk performing art in which participants dance while chanting the nembutsu accompanied by gongs and drums.

Hidari Daimonji on Kinugasa Okitayama The Hidari Daimonji resembles the main Daimonji in shape but is distinguished by the practice of lighting the fire in the order of brush strokes. The fire bed has 53 pits, with the first stroke measuring 48 meters, the second stroke 68 meters, and the third stroke 59 meters, making it slightly smaller than the main Daimonji. Located behind Kinkakuji Temple, it offers a beautiful view from the temple grounds and Nishioji Street. Court noble diaries from the early Edo period mention it as the Western Daimonji in contrast to the Eastern Daimonji, suggesting it was established later than the main Daimonji.

Torii-gata Shrine Gate Shape on Saga Mandarayama The Torii-gata bonfire differs from the other four in its unique lighting method, where participants run with torches and thrust them into each fire pit. The fire bed consists of 108 pits, with the horizontal beam section measuring approximately 70 meters and the vertical pillars approximately 80 meters, making it the bonfire with the largest number of fire pits in Kyoto City. The traditional division of roles is maintained, with younger members handling the horizontal beam area called yoko no hashiri and veteran members handling the vertical pillar area called tate no hashiri.

The Moment of Lighting and the Silent City The beauty of the Gozan Okuribi lies in the sequential lighting of the five mountains over approximately one hour. The Daimonji is lit at 8:00 PM, followed by the Myo and Ho at 8:05 PM, the Funagata at 8:10 PM, the Hidari Daimonji at 8:15 PM, and the Torii-gata at 8:20 PM. The scene of the mountains gradually becoming enveloped in fire creates a fantastical vision like five beacons floating in the night sky. During this time, the city of Kyoto is enveloped in silence and a solemn mood, with crowds gathering along the banks of the Kamo River and other viewing spots to quietly watch the bonfires as they burn and fade.

Event Information and Access

• Date and Time: Annually on August 16. Lighting times are Daimonji at 8:00 PM, Myo and Ho at 8:05 PM, Funagata at 8:10 PM, Hidari Daimonji at 8:15 PM, and Torii-gata at 8:20 PM. Each bonfire burns for approximately 30 minutes.
• Daimonji Viewing Spots: Along the Kamo River banks between Marutamachi Bridge and Misono Bridge. Kyoto Gyoen Imperial Park also offers viewing opportunities. Rooftops of high-rise buildings along Kawaramachi Street and Kiyamachi Street provide views but are often paid areas.
• Myo and Ho Viewing Spots: Along Kitayama Street near Matsugasaki Station on the Kyoto Municipal Subway. The area around Kyoto Notre Dame University also offers good visibility.
• Funagata Viewing Spots: Along the Kamo River near Kitayama Ohashi Bridge and Nishigamo Bridge. The area east of Matsugasaki Station along Kitayama Street is also recommended.
• Hidari Daimonji Viewing Spots: Along Nishioji Street between Marutamachi and Kinkakuji Temple. The grounds of Kinkakuji Temple are also a known viewing location.
• Torii-gata Viewing Spots: Near Togetsukyo Bridge, Matsuo Bridge, and around Hirosawa Pond. This area is somewhat distant from the city center, so travel to the Arashiyama area is necessary.
• Access and Traffic Regulations: Extensive traffic restrictions are implemented around all viewing spots, making car access difficult. For the Kamo River area, the Keihan Electric Railway Demachiyanagi Station or the Kyoto Municipal Subway Karasuma Line Marutamachi Station are convenient. For Matsugasaki, the Subway Karasuma Line Matsugasaki Station is the nearest stop. For Arashiyama and Torii-gata, the Randen Tram or JR Sagano Line are recommended. For the latest schedule and traffic information, please check the official website.

Surrounding Information

Several historically significant temples located at the foot of each mountain are worth visiting in conjunction with the Gozan Okuribi. At the foot of the Daimonji, Ginkakuji Temple, founded by Ashikaga Yoshimasa, stands as a symbol of Higashiyama culture. The preservation society for the Daimonji accepts Goma wood offerings at the front gate of Ginkakuji, drawing crowds of visitors from August 14 to 16. At the base of the Matsugasaki Myo and Ho bonfires, Yusenji Temple hosts the Odori Nembutsu dance after the lighting, where participants form circles and dance while rotating fans and chanting Namu Myoho Renge Kyo to the rhythm of drums.

At the foot of the Torii-gata bonfire, Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple accepts Goma wood offerings during the Okuribi period. This temple has a history dating back to the Heian period and is famous for its forest of stone Buddha statues. The Arashiyama area, including Togetsukyo Bridge, the Bamboo Grove Path, and Tenryuji Temple, offers a rich concentration of tourist attractions, allowing visitors to enjoy the scenery of Sagano before the bonfire. At Saihoji Temple near the Funagata bonfire, Rokusai Nembutsu is performed on the day of the bonfire, a folk art combining chanting and dancing accompanied by gongs and drums.

Additionally, the summer tradition of dining on the noryo yuka platforms along the Kamo River offers a luxurious way to wait for the Daimonji. Restaurants and tea houses along the river set up platforms where guests can enjoy Kyoto cuisine while facing the Daimonji directly. However, reservations for these platforms are extremely competitive and require early booking. According to local tradition, the charcoal remnants of the bonfires are believed to ward off epidemics and evil spirits, and those who have submitted Goma wood offerings can take home the charcoal from the mountain base.

Related Information

• During the late Edo period, in addition to the current five bonfires, other characters and shapes were lit, including the character i at Ichiharano, the character ichi at Narutaki, a bamboo tip with a bell at Nishiyama, a snake shape at Kitasaga, and a halberd shape at Kankuji Temple, but these were abandoned early on.
• A traditional belief holds that drinking water in which the charcoal from the bonfires has been soaked prevents cerebral apoplexy, and participants who submit Goma wood offerings often take home the charcoal.
• On April 8, 1890, the Daimonji was lit to celebrate the completion of the Lake Biwa Canal, and on May 9, 1891, all five bonfires were lit to commemorate the visit of the Russian Crown Prince to Kyoto.
• Following the example of the Kyoto Gozan Okuribi, similar bonfire festivals are held on August 16 in Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, and in Nakamura, Kochi Prefecture.
• The Gozan Okuribi was designated as an intangible folk cultural property of Kyoto City on June 1, 1983, and preservation societies continue to maintain and pass on the tradition.
• The lighting methods differ among the mountains: the Daimonji uses stacked firewood lit simultaneously, while the Torii-gata uses runners who thrust torches into each fire pit, reflecting the unique traditions of each mountain community.

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