Festival & ritual · Aug 4, 2026
Gozan Okuribi - Kyoto Mountain Fires
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On August 16, 2026, Kyoto's mountains glow as the Gozan Okuribi fires are lit one after another from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM to honor ancestral spirits.
Plan your visit
- Event dates
- 2026-08-16 – 2026-08-16
- Address
- Multiple viewpoints across Kyoto
- Admission
- Free public viewing
What to know
Gozan Okuribi is Kyoto's defining summer remembrance tradition. Five mountain formations are lit in sequence during the Bon season, beginning with the iconic Dai at 8:00 PM.
The supplied schedule lists the following viewing directions: Dai at Kamogawa levee near Marutamabashi Bridge (8:00 PM); Myo near Kyoto Seika Women's University (8:05 PM); Ho at the north side of Takano Bridge (8:05 PM); Funagata northwest of Kitayama Ohashi Bridge (8:10 PM); Hidaridai-moji around Nishioji Street, Konchi-in Temple, and Hirano Shrine (8:15 PM); and Toriigata around Watarigetsu Bridge, Matsuo Bridge, and Hirozawa Pond (8:20 PM).
Viewing spots can become crowded quickly. Keep bridges, riverbanks, and roads clear, and follow any access restrictions announced for the evening.
