The feast of a thousand fires: the festival of Daimonji

In Japan, there is fire festival called Gozan no Okuribi (the great bonfire event) kown as Daimonji-yaki where huge fires representing Japanese ideograms are lit at the top of different mountains in Kyoto. The event is held on August 16 each year at the day when Obon ends. Obon is an event in Japan to worship the spirits of ancestors. 

Today, no one really knows either the history or the origins of this event. Some people think that Daimonji-yaki is a way to illuminate the way for the dead to go back to the underworld just before the end of Obon. Otherwise the gate marks boundary between the real world and the underworld will be closed. And ancient people believe that the underworld may exist somewhere deep in the mountains.

The illumination starts from 20:00. Kanji (one of the Japanese writings) are drawn on 3 different mountains:

大 dai, meaning big, is lit on Mount Daimonji-yama;

妙 法　myô  ho, in two characters mean "Myoho" (mavelous law of Buddha) myo is lit on Mount Nishi-yama and ho is lit on Mount Higashi-yama
are lit on 20:05

on Mount Funa-yama a shape of boat is drawn at 20:10

Then, the left dai 大, is lit on Mount Daikita-yama at 20:15

At the last, on Mount Mandara-Yama a torri, a large traditional gate at the entrance of Shinto shrines is drawn at 20:20.
 

Since Kyoto or its surroundings has many places where it is possible to observe the illuminations of the mountain peaks of the city:

• from the bank of the Kamo-gawa river, it is possible to see the character 大 dai;
• from the Takanogawa River, it is possible to see the character 法;
• from the Matsuobashi bridge, it is possible to see the torii.

The highest point of Funaokayama Park is the best place for viewing the illuminations. This place will offer you a panoramic view of all the surrounding mountains.