Brilliant flames set the hills of Nara ablaze—Nara’s winter fire tradition burns on for centuries
By / MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team
Japan is a country rich in diverse traditional characteristics. As the cold winter arrives, various cities kick off their festive celebrations. Among them, we at MOOK Scenic Spots would like to introduce a particularly unique traditional culture located in Nara. The Wakakusa Yamayaki is a traditional event in Nara, where the entire Wakakusa Mountain is set ablaze on the fourth Saturday of January each year to herald the arrival of early spring. Before the burning, a spectacular fireworks display lights up the sky over Nara City.
The Wakakusa Yamayaki is an annual Nara tradition (Image source / Nara Tourism Association)
The Wakakusa Yamayaki tradition is paired with vibrant and colorful fireworks (Image source / Wikipedia)
There are different theories about the origins of the Wakakusa Yamayaki. One says it began as a mountain-burning ritual to mark land boundaries, which later evolved into a traditional event (Image source / Nara Tourism Association)
Another theory behind the Wakakusa Yamayaki is that it was initiated to subdue the spirits of the Kumano Shrine Tomb located at the summit of Wakakusa Mountain, giving rise to this burning ceremony (Image source / Nara Tourism Association)
The Wakakusa Yamayaki involves setting the entire Wakakusa Mountain on fire on the fourth Saturday of January each year to announce the arrival of early spring (Image source / Nara Tourism Association)
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