Kyoto Bonfire Festival

Kyoto’s Mystical Mountain Illuminations (五山送り火): A Journey Through Time and Tradition

Every year on the enchanting night of August 16th, the ancient city of Kyoto lights up in a breathtaking spectacle. As one of Kyoto’s four revered events, alongside the renowned Aoi Festival, Gion Festival, and Jidai Festival, this majestic mountain illumination event is a sight to behold. The mountainscape twinkles to life with the sequential lighting of five prominent symbols, beginning with the iconic “Daimonji” at 8:00 p.m., and culminating in the “Torii-shaped torch” at 8:20 p.m. This age-old ritual is believed to guide the spirits of the departed, known as Shoraisan, to their celestial abode.

Traditions evolve, and so has the sequence and timing of these illuminations. Once, the ‘Daimonji’ – regarded as the Yokozuna, or grand champion, of the Gozan – was the final light, and lights were ignited earlier in the days of the lunar calendar. However, since 1963, and with a few changes in 2014, the city has ensured a mesmerizing five-minute interval between each illumination, painting a temporal and spatial masterpiece in the night sky.

Today, this spectacular display, rooted deep in history and reverence, attracts countless souls, who come together to experience a mesmerizing confluence of the past, present, and the ethereal. As darkness falls, prepare to be transported to a world where flames dance, spirits soar, and the beauty of Kyoto’s traditions ignites the heart and imagination.