Find out Kyoto’s Kurama Fire Festival with a history of 1,000 years
Shinobu
Kyoto is no doubt one of the most ancient cities in Japan.
This means there are some festivals dating back to more than 1,000 years that still continue to awe us today.
Of these is the Kurama Fire Festival in Kyoto, which features a parade of fire torches throughout the night with men in unique traditional costumes.
Read on to find out the all-encompassing detail of the Kurama Fire Festival!
Contents
- What is the Kurama Fire Festival? (鞍馬の火祭)
- When is the festival held?
- Where is the Kurama Fire Festival held?
- What can you see in the procession?
- History of the Kurama Fire Festival
- A little heads up
- Access to Yuki Shrine
- Summary
1. What is the Kurama Fire Festival?
Kurama Fire Festival is an annual event held in Kyoto, and is one of the most popular fire festivals in Japan.
It is one of the 3 most strange festivals in Kyoto (京都三大奇祭), and one of the 3 largest fire festivals in Japan (日本三大火祭).
The festival is famous for featuring the parade of hundreds of locals bearing flaming torches which creates an incandescent sight.
The parade is a reenactment of the ceremony that the local villagers used to hold to welcome the kami spirits of the shrine to their village.
Although the festival was minimized in size since the Covid-19 pandemic, it has returned back to its fiery glamour since 2023.
2. When is the festival held?
The festival is held every year on the 22nd of October, the same day as the Jidai Matsuri.
It begins at dusk at around 6pm and lasts until midnight.
Due to the fact that many visitors come to the festival by train, it is wise to keep in mind that it would take about one hour after the festival to be able to get on a train.
The same goes for the queue to bathrooms as well.
Be careful not to miss the last train!
3. Where is the Kurama Fire Festival held?
Kurama Fire Festival is held in the Yuki Shrine (由岐神社), up in the mountainous village of Kurama.
The festival venue is accessible by train from Kyoto Station.
Get off at Kurama Station, and you will find that the festival is held on the streets of the village just outside the station.
If you are unsure whether you've got off at the right station, look for a tengu monument that is situated in front of the station!
4. What can you see in the procession?
The procession begins at dusk at around 6pm when small torches are lit in front of each house.
Many homes display their family heirlooms like samurai armour, painted screens, and crockeries for the occasion.
The procession is also a rite of passage for youth.
It was initially an event for boys, but in recent years girls have begun to participate due to the decreasing population of the village.
The men are the centre of attention of the parade, carrying huge torches called taimatsu which can weigh up to 100kg (220 lb) and are about 4 metres long.
A small number of men will carry mikoshi (portable shrines) to demonstrate their great strength as mikoshi are extremely heavy, with some ranging from 500 kg to 1t (1102 lb to 2204 lb).
The participants of the procession all wear traditional costumes that are uniquely Japanese.
These costumes include loincloths, sandals, braided rope skirts tied around the waist, and a padded cloth slung over one shoulder to cushion the heaviness of the torch.
At the end of the parade, the torches are piled together to create one large bonfire.
5. History of the Kurama Fire Festival
The Yuki Shrine was moved to Kurama in 940 in the early Heian period during a time of war and a series of disasters in the capital.
In order to protect the capital from new disasters, the Emperor decided to transfer the Yuki Daimyojin sanctuary to Kurama in the north of Kyoto, and so the festival is based on the journey of the god Yuki Daimyojin to Yuki Shrine.
The locals lit fires along the road to facilitate the passage of the deities, and this is why the festival holds the torch parade.
The Kurama Fire Festival has been preserved for more than 1,000 years to pass on its grandeur and the spirit of Yuki Daimyojin to posterity.
6. A little heads up
Due to the popularity of the Kurama Fire Festival, it attracts thousands of visitors and tour groups from all across Japan and the world to see the festival, which consequently have led to overcrowding over the past few years.
Therefore, it is highly recommended to arrive at the festival venue a few hours before it starts.
7. Access to Yuki Shrine
Yuki Shrine（由岐神社）
Japanese Address: 〒601-1111 京都市左京区鞍馬本町1073番地
English Address: 1073 Kuramahon-machi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto-fu
By train from Kyoto Station:
Kyoto Station → Tofukuji Station → Demachiyanagi Station → Kurama Station
8. Summary
Kurama Fire Festival is one fiery and energetic event, and is highly popular among tourists all over the world.
It is definitely one of the most strange, and somewhat eerie festivals in Japan.
So if you ever visit Kyoto in the autumn season and want to experience a little bit of heat, the Kurama Fire Festival is a must-visit!
For more festivals, refer to our Ninja Blog article on 8 Must-Visit Festivals in Kyoto
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