Kyoto Tourist Information Center “Kyo Navi” Jul., 2024

英G-2

August 16
Daimonji Gozan Okuribi
Ritual Fires

On the evening of August 16, the Gozan Bonfires are lit
as follows;(There may be some delays depending on the weather.)
20:00 Daimonji
20:05 Myo Ho
20:10 Funagata
20:15 Hidaridaimonji
20:20 Toriigata
Each fire is lit for about 30 minute

The No. ①, ② ….. ⑨ on the map show the places to see Okuribi Bonfires.
① Demachiyanagi, Kamogawa Delta area …Daimonji ② Yoshidayama park (hill) …Daimonji③ Imperial Park … Daimonji ④ Along Kamo river, Misono Bridge …Funagata⑤ Funaokayama park … Daimonji, Myo Ho, Funagata, Hidari Daimonji⑥ Hirosawa Pond …Toriigata and Lantern Floating ⑦ Nishioji St. ….Hidaridaimonji⑧ Togetsukyo Bridge …Toriigata and Lantern Floating ⑨ Matsuo Bridge …Toriigata
Notice: No. ②, ⑤ and ⑥ are the popular places that you can see bonfires very well. However,there will be a lot of people and terribly crowded. Please be careful as there are few
streetlights in the area

④ Along Kamo river,Misono Bridge① DemachiyanagiKamogawa
Delta AreaToro-nagashi:
Lantern Floating
19:00-21:00⑤ Funaoka-yama⑥at Hirosawa
Pond andArashiyama
Togetsukyo
Bridge area

Hirosawa
PondPark③ImperialPark⑧ Togetsukyo
Bridge Area

⑨Matsuo
Bridge⑦ Nishioji St.

(HamaguriGate）

円町
Enmachi Sta.

②Yoshida-yama Park

Viewing Spots
Five Mountains
Daimonji
Mt. Daimonji or Nyoigatake
This character 大 means
greater

Time ofLighting

Viewing Spots

Along Kamo River［Marutamachi Bridge to Misonobashi Bridge ④］
20:00
Kamogawa Delta, Demachiyanagi ①, Ginkakuji Michi,
Yoshidayama ② and Kyoto Imperial Park ③

MyoMyo-Ho

Mt. Mantoro“Myo Ho” means Buddha’sremarkable teaching(The lotus sutra)This character 妙 means
remarkable or mysteries

HoKitayama St.［Near Notre Dame Women’s College toMatsugasaki Sta.］
20:05

Mt. Daikokuten“Myo Ho” means Buddha’s
remarkable teaching(The lotus sutra)This character 法 means
teaching or law

Funagata
Mt. Funa
Ship

Along Takano River［North of Kamogawa Delta］
Kitayama St. ［East of Matsugasaki Sta.］

20:10

Kamogawa River［Kitayama Bridge to Nishigamo
Bridge ］

Hidari (left) Daimonji
Mt. OkitaThis character 大 means
greaterToriigata
Mt. Mandara
Shrine Gate

20:15 Nishioji St. ⑦［Enmachi Sta. to Kinkakuji Temple］

20:20

Togetsukyo Bridge ⑧, Matsuo-bashi Bridge ⑨
Hirosawa Pond ⑥

What is Gozan Okuribi?
Gozan Okuribi (bonfire) held on the evening of August 16 is one of Kyoto’s symbolic religious
ceremonies in summer. Okuribi (bonfire) is said to send off ancestors’ spirits to the other side.
People believe ancestral spirits come back to their homes from August 13 to 16 (obon). It is said thatGozan Okuribi became an annual event after the Muromachi and Edo periods (15C-17C).
Gozan Okuribi consists of five different characters on five mountains: “Daimonji” (Greater),“Myo-Ho”(Buddha’s remarkable teaching), “Funagata” (ship), “Hidari Daimonji” (left Greater) and“Toriigata” (shrine gate) . These five characters are lit one by one every 5 min. from 8 pm.
There are several views on the beginning; however the origin of the ceremony is unknown. Somehistorical sources say there used to be a custom to send off ancestors’ spirits by throwing burning
torches into the air. In contrast, the present Gozan Okuribi adopts the style to light up the fire bedof each mountain.