A traditional event heralding early spring
in the ancient capital of Nara
Saturday, January 23, 2027
Information on paid viewing tickets for individual visitors will be announced on this website in early November.
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Photo: KAZUTO SATO
Wakakusa Yamayaki is a traditional early-spring event in Nara, held every year on the fourth Saturday of January.
After a display of colorful fireworks, volunteer fire corps members carrying torches light the grass all at once, and flames race up the mountainside. The scene has become one of the defining winter sights of the ancient capital.
First-Timer's Guide to Wakakusa Yamayaki
Learn
Discover the history and origins of Wakakusa Yamayaki and the background of this long-standing event.
Enjoy
Find out about the day's highlights, including the grand fireworks and the mountain burning, and how to enjoy them.
Event Highlights
5:00 p.m.
Fire Brigade Send-off Ceremony (Mount Wakakusa Foothill Area)
Approximately 300 volunteer firefighters and fire suppression personnel gather for a send-off ceremony.
Venue: Special stage at the foot of Mount Wakakusa
5:05 p.m.
Sacred Fire Procession and Nogami Shrine Ceremony
Led by the sound of conch-shell horns blown by yamabushi mountain ascetics of Kinpusen-ji Temple, the sacred fire procession sets out from Tobihino. This solemn period procession of about 40 people includes Shinto priests of Kasuga Taisha Shrine, monks of Kofuku-ji and Todai-ji temples, and officials of the Nara Magistrate's Office. Holding aloft the sacred fire passed down from Kasuga's great tondo bonfire, they carefully carry it to Nogami Shrine at the foot of Mt. Wakakusa.
6:15 p.m.
Grand Fireworks
The grand fireworks open Wakakusa Yamayaki. Large "shakudama" shells, a rare sight in Nara Prefecture, light up the clear winter night sky in brilliant color.
6:30 p.m.
Mountain Burning
About 300 members of the Nara City Volunteer Fire Corps transfer fire from a large bonfire to their torches and carry it to the front slope of Mt. Wakakusa. At the signal, the grass is lit and the flames spread across the mountainside.
Until
7:30 p.m.
Mt. Wakakusa Ablaze
Flames race up the slopes, lighting the whole of Mt. Wakakusa in red. Enjoy this spectacular sight against the night sky of the ancient capital of Nara.
Access & Viewing Guide
Here you'll find how to get to the venue, recommended viewing spots, and information on traffic restrictions and precautions for the day.
Please check before you visit so you can enjoy Wakakusa Yamayaki safely.
FAQ
When is Wakakusa Yamayaki held?
It is held every year on the fourth Saturday of January (in 2027, on Saturday, January 23).
Where can I buy tickets?
*Ticket information is scheduled to be posted in early November.
Where can I see the sacred fire procession?
The sacred fire procession leaves Tobihino in the grounds of Kasuga Taisha Shrine at about 5:05 p.m., passes near Mizuyabashi Bridge (about 5:25 p.m.) and proceeds solemnly to Nogami Shrine at the foot of Mt. Wakakusa (arriving about 5:40 p.m.). You can watch from the sidewalks along the route, but running after or alongside the procession is very dangerous and can lead to accidents, so it is strictly prohibited.
Please watch quietly from a safe place.
CO₂ emissions associated with this event will be offset using J-Credits generated from forests within Nara Prefecture and donated to the prefecture.
Carbon offsetting is an initiative to protect the global environment by compensating for CO₂ emissions through emission reductions or removals achieved elsewhere.
