The traditional Gozan no Okuribi bonfires will be held in Kyoto City on the night of August 16, 2024.

This is one of Kyoto's four major events, and involves lighting flames on the five mountains surrounding Kyoto City to send the spirits of the dead to the afterlife.

People with the Daimonji character on their backs watch the bonfires being lit one after another (8:12 p.m. on August 16, 2023, from Izumojibashi Bridge in Kita Ward, Kyoto City)

Daimonji: Nyoigatake (Daimonjiyama) in Jodo-ji, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, lit at 8pm

The "Myo" of the Gozan no Okuribi (8:05 p.m. on August 16, 2023, from the rooftop of the Kyoto Shimbun newspaper in Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto City)

The "Ho" of the Gozan no Okuribi (8:05 p.m. on August 16, 2023, from the rooftop of the Kyoto Shimbun newspaper in Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto City)

Myo-ho = There are two mountains, one character each, but they are treated as one mountain and one character. The meaning comes from the Nichiren sect sutra "Myoho". Nishiyama and Higashiyama in Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, lit at 8:05pm

Funagata (8:20 pm)

Funagata = the shape of a ship: Funayama in Nishigamo, Kita-ku, Kyoto City, lit at 8:10pm

Hidari Daimoji (8:25 p.m.)

Hidarimoji =  Daimonji on the left, meaning "Daimonji" reflected in a mirror: Daimonjiyama in Okitayama, Kita-ku, Kyoto City, lit at 8:15pm

Toriigata Gozan no Okuribi (photographed from Hirosawa Pond, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City)

 

 Toriigata = The meaning of the shape of the torii gate: Mandalayama in Sagatoriimoto, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto City, lit at 8:20pm