On the night of August 16, 2026, the "Gozan Okuribi" (Five Mountain Bonfire)—a traditional Kyoto event held to bid farewell to ancestral spirits welcomed during the Obon season—took place across various mountains in the city. Residents and tourists alike gazed at the characters and shapes illuminated by flames on the mountainsides, reflecting on their departed loved ones.
At 8:00 PM, the "Daimonji" bonfire (Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City) was the first to be lit, causing the character "Dai" (meaning "large" or "great") to stand out clearly against the Higashiyama mountains. At five-minute intervals, the other fires followed—"Myo-Ho" (Sakyo Ward), "Funagata" (Kita Ward), "Hidari-Daimonji" (Kita Ward), and "Toriigata" (Ukyo Ward)—creating a succession of flickering flames across the five mountains surrounding the ancient capital.
The heat in Kyoto had eased slightly that day, with a high of 32.7°C. Crowds gathered in the area known as the "Kamogawa Delta" (Sakyo Ward)—where the Kamo and Takano rivers converge—including a noticeable number of foreign tourists. When the Daimonji fire was lit directly ahead, cheers of "I can see it!" and "Amazing!" rang out as onlookers watched the flames spread to form the character "Dai."
People began gathering from the late afternoon along the eastern shore of Hirosawa Pond (Ukyo Ward), which offers a view of the Toriigata bonfire, to await the lighting. Starting at 7:00 PM, the nearby Henjo-ji Temple held a lantern-floating ceremony on the pond. Spectators gazed at the Toriigata fire—known for its unique ignition method where flames appear to race up the mountain—and the colorful lanterns drifting on the water, while thinking of their deceased loved ones.
According to the Kyoto Prefectural Police, the turnout for the event was approximately 23,000 people, an increase of about 1,000 from the previous year.
