On July 23, 2026—the day before the *Yamaboko* float procession for the Gion Festival’s *Ato-matsuri* (Latter Festival)—about 30 *yamabushi* (mountain ascetics) from Shogoin Temple (Sakyo Ward, Kyoto)—the head temple of the Honzan Shugen sect—visited En-no-Gyoja Yama (located on Muromachi-dori Street, north of Sanjo, in Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto) to perform a *goma* fire ritual. White smoke billowed across Muromachi-dori Street as they prayed for the safety of the float procession and the warding off of epidemics.

A Yamabushi monk burns a Goma fire, enveloping Muromachi-dori Street and the En-no-Gyoja-yama float (right) in white smoke — Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto City.

En-no-Gyoja Yama enshrines figures such as En-no-Gyoja, the founder of the Shugendo tradition, as its sacred objects. Around 1:30 p.m. on July 23, the *yamabushi* arrived, blowing conch-shell trumpets. After purifying the site by shooting arrows and brandishing swords toward the cardinal directions, the *goma* altar, and the *kimon* (demon gate/northeast) direction, they ignited the altar, which was constructed from cypress leaves and split firewood.

White smoke rose and filled Muromachi-dori Street, an area lined with apartment buildings and hotels. The *yamabushi* chanted sutras while sweating in the heat surrounding the flames, and officials from the En-no-Gyoja Yama Preservation Society tossed *goma* prayer sticks—inscribed with wishes such as "freedom from illness and misfortune"—into the fire.

In addition to En-no-Gyoja Yama, the *yamabushi* visited and chanted sutras at the Jomyo-yama, Minami-Kannon-yama, Kita-Kannon-yama, and Hachiman-yama floats.