Kurama Fire Festival: A Torch-Lit Autumn Night in Kyoto's Hills

Published October 20, 2026 at 6:53 PM JST

Every autumn the mountain village of Kurama fills with blazing pine torches, drumbeats and chanting as Yuki Shrine celebrates its annual festival, one of Kyoto's most striking nights.

Quick answer: The Kurama Fire Festival, or Kurama no Hi Matsuri, is the annual festival of Yuki Shrine in the mountain village of Kurama in northern Kyoto. It is usually held on the night of October 22, when villagers carry flaming torches through the lanes and bring portable shrines down to the village. The shrine and local groups set the details each year, so check official information before you travel.

A village that glows after dark

Kurama is a small village tucked into the forested hills north of central Kyoto, the kind of place where cedar trees tower over the road and the air turns cool by evening. Most of the year it is known for hiking and for Kurama-dera, the mountain temple above the village. On one night in autumn, though, it becomes one of the most atmospheric festival sites in the Kyoto area.

The Kurama Fire Festival is the autumn festival of Yuki Shrine, and it is usually held on the night of October 22. As darkness falls, small fires are lit in front of homes and torches of every size appear in the streets. Children carry little ones, young people carry larger ones, and strong adult men shoulder huge bundles of burning pine. The village is filled with the crackle of flame and the calls of the participants.

The festival is counted among the so-called three unusual festivals of Kyoto, according to Japanese reference sources, and the shrine itself describes it as one of Japan's great fire festivals. For visitors, the appeal is simple: it is a living village tradition, with local people at the center, and the glow of the torches against the dark mountainside is unforgettable.

History and origins

The shrine's story begins in the tenth century. According to Japanese sources, in 940 the deity of Yuki Shrine was moved from the imperial palace in Heian-kyo, the old capital, to the foot of Mt. Kurama. The aim was to protect the north of the capital and bring calm during a restless time. The Yuki Shrine page explains that the festival recreates the procession that accompanied this relocation, and that it has been kept alive to the present day.

One account says that reeds growing along the Kamo River were lit as torches along the route, and that the procession stretched about a kilometer. Villagers who saw it were moved, and they began a festival to pass on the story and the deity's blessing. Until the separation of Shinto and Buddhism in the Meiji era, the temple Kurama-dera is said to have organized the festival.

The shrine also describes a link to fire prevention, as the deity is associated with protection against fire. That makes the use of so many torches feel fitting, as if the community is offering the flames respectfully and asking for safety in return.

The torches and the portable shrines

The torches are central. Smaller ones, sometimes called tokkuri, are carried by children, while the biggest torches, made of bundled pine, are carried by adult men and can weigh up to about 80 kilograms, according to a Kyoto event guide. The torch bearers gather at the foot of the steps in front of the temple's main gate, and at the peak more than a hundred take part.

Participants wear traditional festival clothing suited to the occasion. That includes traditional sandals, a loincloth, a braided rope skirt, a patterned arm guard and a padded cloth on one shoulder for resting the torch. This is the customary dress of the festival and is worn by the bearers themselves, so it is simply part of the tradition.

The portable shrines, or mikoshi, are the other main feature. After a sacred rope at the top of the steps is cut, selected men bring the mikoshi down the stairs, one for each deity, and they are paraded around the village. Women known as tsunagata hold the ropes that slow the descent on the steep path, and the Japanese reference notes that many young women join in because pulling the rope is said to bring an easy childbirth. Men hanging from the carrying poles during the descent perform a rite called choppen, described as a once-in-a-lifetime coming-of-age moment for local men.

What happens during the night

According to the Japanese reference and a Kyoto tourism listing, the day begins around 6 pm, when a call announces the start of the rites. Bonfires and torches are lit in front of each household, and children are followed by adults as groups walk through the village to the host house for that year, known as the yado.

Around 8 pm, the large torches from each group gather at the steps below the temple gate. They are burned down there and then thrown onto the spot at the bottom of the steps, creating a dramatic scene. After that, the sacred rope is cut and the mikoshi descend in order. The festivities run until close to midnight, when the procession ends and parishioners head home.

The next morning there is a calm sequel. A return procession carries the mikoshi from the temporary resting place back to the shrine, and the festival is complete. The torches, the drums and the mikoshi are regarded as holding the deities, which is why only people involved in the ceremony may touch them.

Calls, rhythm and the mood of the village

The sounds of Kurama are as memorable as the sights. Participants shout a rhythmic call that the Japanese reference renders as something like sairei, sairyo, which relates to the festival and its rites, and the heavy tread of the bearers and the beat of drums add a steady beat. The sparks rise into the night air above the narrow lanes, and the smell of pine smoke hangs in the cool autumn evening.

Some households display family heirlooms in their windows, such as samurai armor, according to a Japan National Tourism Organization page. Children carry their small torches at the head of the procession, and the whole village takes part. It remains a rite of passage for local young people, and the same tourism page notes that girls now take part as well as boys.

For a visitor, the best approach is to enjoy the energy from a respectful distance. The festival belongs to the community, so treat it the way you would treat a family occasion where you are a welcome guest.

Visiting Kurama on festival night

Plan ahead, because Kurama is a small place with a narrow valley road. The only public transport on the afternoon of the festival is the Eizan Electric Railway Kurama Line from Demachiyanagi Station in Kyoto, according to the Japanese reference. The trains are short and capacity is limited, so long waits at Demachiyanagi are common. In a recent year the last special train from Kurama left just after midnight, but schedules vary, so check the railway notice.

The reference also notes that general traffic, including bicycles, is banned along the route from mid-afternoon until early the next morning, and that one-way pedestrian flow is enforced around the temple gate. Follow signs and staff directions, move with the flow, and keep a safe distance from the torches, since sparks and heat can reach the edge of the crowd. Wear sturdy shoes and clothes that you would not mind getting a little smoky, and avoid carrying large bags.

Many visitors arrive well before sunset to secure a place and to see the village in daylight. The Yuki Shrine grounds feature a very large old cedar that the shrine says is designated a Kyoto City Natural Monument, and a camphor tree beside the path is treated as sacred, so there is plenty to see before the fires begin.

Recognition and what makes it special

The festival is registered as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Kyoto City, which was registered in 1983 according to the Japanese reference. Two films about the festival, one from 1975 and one from 2019, are held in the Kyoto Cultural Foundation library, a sign of how carefully the tradition has been recorded.

Kurama's festival falls on the same day as the Jidai Matsuri in central Kyoto, so those who like variety can see a grand daytime historical parade in the city and then travel up to the hills for a fiery evening. The contrast between the two is part of what makes October 22 so special in Kyoto.

Because the festival belongs to a working shrine, safety and respect for local custom come first. Do not touch torches, drums or mikoshi, and follow the instructions of staff and police on the night. Check the Yuki Shrine website or Kyoto's tourism information for the latest schedule and any notices.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Kurama Fire Festival held?

It is usually held on the night of October 22 each year, starting around dusk and continuing until close to midnight. The shrine and local groups confirm the exact plans, so check official information before you go.

How can visitors get to Kurama for the festival?

The standard route is the Eizan Electric Railway Kurama Line from Demachiyanagi Station in Kyoto to Kurama Station, and the festival is held on the village streets close to the station. On festival day the trains can be crowded, so allow extra time and consider arriving early.

Can visitors take part in the festival?

The torch bearers and mikoshi carriers are local parishioners and groups, and the torches, drums and mikoshi are considered sacred, so only those involved may touch them. Visitors are welcome to watch, take photos from a safe distance and enjoy the atmosphere while following staff instructions.

Further reading: the Yuki Shrine official website, the Discover Kyoto event listing for the Kurama no Hi Matsuri and the Tale of Genji site page on the Kurama Fire Festival.

Keep exploring: Five Mountains, Five Fires: Kyoto's Gozan Okuribi Send-Off; Jidai Matsuri: Kyoto's Autumn Walk Through a Thousand Years; Nachi Fire Festival: Twelve Fan Shrines Come Home to the Falls; Yoshida Fire Festival: Mount Fuji's Season-Closing Night of Torches.