Kurama Fire Festival 2026: Giant Torches on a Mountain Road

The torches of Kurama are so large that a single bearer cannot lift one; the whole village moves as one procession of flame.

Kurama no Hi Matsuri (鞍馬の火祭), the Kurama Fire Festival, is the autumn festival of Yuki Shrine in the mountain village of Kurama, north of central Kyoto. Held every October 22 after dark, it traces its origins to the 10th-century relocation of the shrine's deity and features more than 100 men carrying massive pine torches up the main village road to Yuki Shrine. It is often paired with Jidai Matsuri, which runs during the daytime in central Kyoto on the same date.

Dates and schedule

Preparations begin in the afternoon as households light small torches outside their doors. Larger community torches are ignited after dusk and processed up the main road from roughly 18:00 onwards. The climax, the gathering of torches and mikoshi at Yuki Shrine, generally takes place between 20:00 and 22:00.

Highlights

• ●Giant pine torches — the largest exceed 100 kilograms and are shouldered by multiple men wearing minimal traditional attire.
• ●Narrow mountain road — the processional route is only a few meters wide, bringing spectators close to the flames.
• ●Yuki Shrine climax — torches are gathered in front of the shrine, followed by the descent of two mikoshi.
• ●1,000+ years of history — the festival is considered one of Kyoto's three most unusual, alongside Yasurai and Ushi Matsuri.

How to get there

From central Kyoto, take the Eizan Dentetsu Kurama Line from Demachiyanagi Station to Kurama Station; the ride takes roughly 30 minutes. Private cars are not permitted to enter Kurama after early afternoon on festival day, and the final kilometer is walk-only. The village's single road becomes the parade route, so visitors generally walk in and out on foot.

Best viewing spots

• ●Main village road (Kurama Kaido) — the entire processional route; stand anywhere behind the rope line.
• ●Area in front of Yuki Shrine — the climactic scene, though it fills up early and crowd control may restrict access.
• ●Yuki Shrine stone steps — elevated view of the torch gathering, if arriving before 18:00.
• ●Kurama Station approach — a convenient first-pass view before walking deeper into the village.

FAQ

Can Kurama be combined with Jidai Matsuri the same day Yes, and many visitors do; the Jidai parade ends by mid-afternoon, leaving time to travel to Kurama by Eizan Dentetsu before dusk. Is the festival suitable for children Flames pass very close to the spectator line and the crowds are intense, so families generally watch from the station end of the village. Is photography allowed Yes, though tripods are not permitted along the processional route.