Daimon-ji Gozan Okuribi 五山送り火
A thousand lights
In summer, the humidity of Kyoto loosens its imprint at dusk. And as if the heat was already lacking, at nightfall the Daimon-ji Gozan Okuribi festival offers its astonished spectators a procession of flames that devour the mountains.
Le caractère 「大」sur le mont Daimon
m-louis
Night lights
Five mountains are ablaze for two symbols, an illuminated sky. On the evening of August 16 for twenty hours, the Kyotoites cozy up to a cup of sake, the bid farewell to the souls of ancestors, to observe the giant fires that ignite around Kyoto. Daimonjisan, character Dai (大), the most spectacular, begins this flamboyant orchestra, to which the other Dai of Hidari-Daimonji-san responds. Then, on the Matsugasaki, Nishiyamae, and Higashiyama mountains, the signs Myô (妙) and Hô (法) are consumed, which form the "wonderful teachings of the Buddha", while the Mount Mandara-san is adorned with an immense incandescent torii - the portal found at the entrance of Shinto shrines - reproduced on its side. At the Funayama, a funa-gata, a boat shape, completes the composition of this pentagonal 360-degree painting. To stir up the heat of the festival, a glass of sake takes on a whole new symbolism. Happy, healthy, and healed are those who see one of the gigantic blazes reflected in their glasses. It is said that the festival forsakes diseases… until the following year!
To discover: Kurama
Address, timetable & access
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Address
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Timetable
Several points of observation are possible. Funaokayama Park (49 Kitafunaoka-cho, Murasakino, Kita-ku, Kyoto) provides a panoramic view of four of the five mountains, including Daimonji. Lastly, the banks of the Kamo river also offer a pleasant view. -
Access
Every August 16 from 8 pm
