Gozan Okuribi - Kyoto's Summer Tradition

Gozan Okuribi is a traditional summer festival held on the night of August 16th every year in Kyoto, serving as a Buddhist ritual to send ancestral spirits to the afterlife during Obon. Massive fire characters and shapes including "Daimonji," "Myōhō," "Funagata," "Hidari Daimonji," and "Toriigata" are lit sequentially on five mountains surrounding Kyoto city, illuminating the night sky for approximately 30 minutes. This traditional event originated from the Buddhist custom of spirit sending combined with folk beliefs. Starting around 8 PM, fires are lit on each mountain at 5-minute intervals, creating a mystical atmosphere in Kyoto's summer night. The fires can be viewed from various locations throughout the city, including along the Kamogawa River and around Kyoto Imperial Park, with the Kamogawa riverbank being particularly popular as multiple fires can be seen simultaneously. As this is a sacred religious ceremony, visitors should observe quietly and show consideration for local residents and proper etiquette during viewing. As a representative traditional event of Kyoto's summer, it attracts many people each year who come to witness this solemn and beautiful spectacle.