Published October 20, 2026 at 8:23 PM JST

On July 14, towering fan-shaped shrines descend the stone steps of Kumano Nachi Taisha toward Nachi Falls, greeted by huge torches in one of Wakayama's most striking summer rituals.

Quick answer: The Nachi Fire Festival, formally the Nachi no Ogi Matsuri (Fan Festival), is the annual grand festival of Kumano Nachi Taisha in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture. It is held on July 14, when twelve fan-shaped portable shrines travel to Nachi Falls and are purified by large torches. The shrine sets the schedule for each year, so check its latest announcements.

A festival beside a sacred waterfall

Nachi Falls drops about 133 meters in the mountains of southern Wakayama, and for centuries it has been regarded as a dwelling place of the divine. Kumano Nachi Taisha stands on the mountainside above it, and once a year, on July 14, the shrine holds the Nachi no Ogi Matsuri, popularly called the Nachi Fire Festival. Its formal name means Fan Festival, a reference to the unusual fan-covered portable shrines at its heart.

The shrine is one of the three grand shrines of Kumano and belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage listing Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range. A Japanese guide notes that the approach, the Omon-zaka slope, has 267 stone steps over about 640 meters, lined with cedars, and forms part of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route.

The festival is often counted among Japan's Three Great Fire Festivals, together with the Nozawa Onsen fire festival and Kurama's festival in Kyoto, although one Japanese source notes that this grouping is a matter of popular reputation rather than an official list. Whatever the ranking, the combination of flame, water, mountain and stone steps makes it memorable.

Attendance is open and free, according to a 2026 event guide, with no advance registration. Large crowds are expected, and the climax takes place in a limited area, so planning ahead matters.

The legend of twelve deities and a homecoming

According to the Japan Tourism Agency database, the festival traces back to the founding of the shrine in 317 CE. The tradition says that twelve deities descended at Nachi Falls in ancient times and were later enshrined at the main shrine halfway up the mountain. A subsidiary shrine at the base of the falls, called Hirou Shrine, venerates the waterfall itself.

The festival is understood as a yearly homecoming. Because the falls are regarded as the original home of the deities, the procession carries them back to the waterfall, where the power of water and fire renews them. The tourism database describes it as a kind of homecoming and says the rites restore the deities' spiritual vigor.

A Japanese shrine guide adds that the festival honors the shrine's founding, revives the deities' spirits and prays for the growth of all things. The rituals pray for a peaceful year and a good harvest.

Another Japanese source notes that the shrine's origins are traditionally placed in the reign of Emperor Nintoku, which is consistent with a very early foundation. As with many ancient shrines, the details of its earliest history are told through tradition and legend.

The ogi mikoshi, shrines shaped like a waterfall

The visual signature of the festival is its twelve ogi mikoshi, or fan shrines. Unlike ordinary portable shrines, these are tall and slender, about six meters high and one meter wide, designed to resemble Nachi Falls itself. A travel article describes them as red.

Each is decorated with 32 folding fans marked with a red rising-sun disc, along with eight round mirrors that represent the light of the sun. A sunburst of wooden slats crowns the top. The twelve shrines symbolize the twelve months of the year, and each is built with exactly 365 bamboo pegs, symbolizing the days.

Twelve of the shrine's thirteen enshrined deities are moved into the shrines. The exception is the deity of the waterfall, who is enshrined at the falls. The shrine's Treasure Hall displays historic mirrors and a miniature fan shrine, so visitors can study the design up close.

The tourism database says bearers keep in step with a distinctive shouted call while crowds watch the shrines move toward the water.

The torches and the climax at the falls

Twelve giant torches, each said to weigh more than 50 kilograms, accompany the procession. The Japan Tourism Agency database notes that they greet the shrines and purify the route with flames, and a travel article reports that they are made from hinoki cypress and that men twirl them at the head of the procession.

The ritual that follows is the climax. According to the tourism database, the shrines are purified by fire at Hirou Shrine, then lined up facing the falls. A Japanese guide places this fire ceremony at around 14:00 on the stone approach. White-clad worshippers also perform a fan dance, singing the praises of the falls and praying for a bountiful harvest, according to the same travel article.

Visitors should stay within the designated viewing areas during the fire ceremony. The event page for 2026 notes that the shrines descend the stone steps slowly, so the pace is stately rather than rushed, and it may help to take a position along the approach in advance.

Weather can affect the program. The same page cautions that severe weather or natural disasters may cause parts of the ceremony to change or be cancelled.

The day's schedule

Here is how the 2026 program was laid out, according to an event guide. At 10:00 the ceremony begins at the main shrine. At 11:00 comes a Yamato-mai dance offering on a stage in the shrine grounds, and at 11:30 a performance of Nachi no Dengaku, an ancient ritual dance.

At 13:00 there is a procession ceremony, followed at about 13:30 by the fan-standing ritual. At about 13:50 the Three Messengers depart and worship toward the peak behind the falls, and around 14:00 the fire ceremony and fan praise ritual take place, forming the festival's high point.

The Nachi no Dengaku is described by the guide as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property and a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, so arriving in the morning allows you to catch this performance as well.

As times can change from year to year, treat this timeline as a guide and confirm the program with the shrine, whose official channels publish updates ahead of the festival.

Getting there and watching comfortably

The usual route is by train and bus. Take the JR Kisei Main Line to Kii-Katsuura Station, then a local bus toward Nachisan. A Japanese guide gives the ride as about 28 minutes, and walking from the stop takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the source. Taxis from Nachikatsuura accommodations take about 20 to 30 minutes.

Driving is possible, but one event guide notes that parking near the shrine is limited, and a Japanese guide lists a small lot with a toll on the disaster-prevention road. Public transport and early arrival are strongly recommended.

Mid-July is hot and humid in Wakayama. The event guide suggests bringing water and a hat or parasol, and wearing comfortable, secure footwear because the route has many stone steps and some slippery sections. A light rain jacket can be handy.

Respect the sacred setting. Keep to the viewing areas, step back from the torches and shrine bearers, follow instructions from staff, and avoid blocking the stone approach. Taking pictures is common, but remain mindful of worshippers and performers.

Nachi, pilgrimage and the surrounding landscape

The festival fits naturally into a trip along the Kumano Kodo. Nachi Falls itself is a National Place of Scenic Beauty, according to a Japanese guide, and it is regarded as one of Japan's three great waterfalls. Visiting the falls and the shrines in the calm of a non-festival day gives a different, quieter perspective.

The shrine's setting on the mountainside is a quiet reminder of why the festival exists. The cedar-lined approach and its stone steps are part of the Kumano Kodo route, which adds to the sense of occasion.

Kii-Katsuura and the surrounding Nachikatsuura area provide the practical base for most trips, with accommodation and transport links to the mountain. If you plan to stay overnight, book early because festival day brings many visitors to the area.

Beyond the festival, the area is an inviting place to explore sacred landscapes at a gentle pace.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Nachi Fire Festival held?

It is held every year on July 14 at Kumano Nachi Taisha in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture. The shrine sets the program each year, with the main fire ceremony usually in the afternoon, so check its official announcements before you travel.

Why does it have fan-shaped shrines?

The twelve ogi mikoshi are designed to resemble Nachi Falls, and each is decorated with 32 fans and eight mirrors. They carry twelve of the shrine's deities on a symbolic homecoming from the main shrine down to the waterfall, where fire and water renew them.

Do I need a ticket to watch?

According to a 2026 event guide, the festival is open to all visitors with free admission and no advance registration. Crowds are large, so arrive early and stay within the designated viewing areas during the fire ceremony. Check the shrine for any changes.

Further reading: the Japan Tourism Agency database page on the Nachi Fire Festival, the nippon.com guide to Japan's festivals, including Nachi and the English event guide for the 2026 Nachi Fire Festival.

Keep exploring: Kurama Fire Festival: A Torch-Lit Autumn Night in Kyoto's Hills; Nozawa Onsen Dosojin Matsuri: A Mountain Village's Winter Fire Prayer; Yoshida Fire Festival: Mount Fuji's Season-Closing Night of Torches; Kishiwada Danjiri: Racing Floats and Perfect Corners in Osaka.