The traditional Gozan no Okuribi fires, a rite to send off the spirits of ancestors welcomed during Obon, were held in Kyoto City on the evening of August 16, 2025. Local residents and tourists gazed up at the flickering flames on the mountainside, mourning the loss of loved ones while reflecting on the preciousness of peace on the 80th anniversary of the end of the war.
At 8:00 PM, Daimonji (Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City) was the first to be lit. This year, due to a partial collapse of the hearth in June, less material was used for burning, resulting in a more subdued "Dai" (大) shape standing out clearly against the face of Higashiyama Mountain. The fires were lit one after the other on the five mountains surrounding the Kyoto Basin, followed by Myoho (Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City), Funagata (Kita Ward, Kyoto City), Hidari Daimonji (Kita Ward, Kyoto City), and Toriigata (Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City).
Many people gathered around the Kamogawa Delta area in Demachiyanagi, where Daimonji is directly in front of them. As the bright letters suddenly appeared in the drizzling night sky, people cheered, saying "I can see it!" and "I've got it!", and quietly clasped their hands and pointed their cameras at the sight.
According to Kyoto City, as of 9 p.m., there had been no confirmed sightings of the sightseeing helicopter. Sightseeing helicopters had flown that night for the second year in a row, and Kyoto City and others had requested operators to refrain from flying them. According to Kyoto Prefectural Police, the number of people who turned out on the day was approximately 22,000, about 25,000 fewer than last year.
