The Kurama Fire Festival, in which torch flames danced in the night sky, was held on the night of October 22, 2023, in the area of Yuki Shrine in Kurama Honmachi, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City. The mikoshi (portable shrine) was revived for the first time in four years, and the village of Rakuhoku was filled with excitement until late at night.
The Kurama Fire Festival is an annual festival at Yuki Shrine. It is said to be a reenactment of the Yuki Daimyojin, which was enshrined in the Dairi, welcoming Kurama in 940 during the Heian period. The festival was canceled for two years in a row until 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the mikoshi togyo did not take place in 2022 as well.
On this day, at 6 p.m., a voice called out, ''Let's join the ritual,'' which signaled the start of the ritual. When the bonfires set up in front of the eaves of each house were lit, children came and went with small torches in their hands, chanting ''Saireiya, Sairyo!''. Kenhoko and large torches joined in as well, and flames of all sizes crisscrossed the streets.
Starting around 8:50 p.m., large torches and other lights gathered in front of the main gate of Kurama-dera Temple to welcome the mikoshi. The two mikoshi were taken to a nearby Otabisho after undergoing the ''Choppen-no-gi,'' a ritual associated with lowering them onto the highway. A large number of tourists watched along the road.
