A large character-shaped fire lighting up the night sky, passed down at Jūdaiji Mountain
Daimonji Okuribi
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- day 16 of lunar month 7 / Every year
- Location
- Midway up Jūdaiji Mountain (Daimonji-yama)
- Area
- Kochi Prefecture・Shimanto City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 20 min–1 h 40 min · flight time only)Prefecture-level estimate to a main station or airport, not the venue. Airport access, check-in and onward travel are extra; remote areas and islands can take much longer.
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
The Daimonji Okuribi, passed down in the Masaki district of Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture, is an event in which a large character-shaped fire is lit on the slope of Jūdaiji Mountain. Together with the Shinto rite for the mountain deity and , the event carries local traditions into the present.
About Daimonji Okuribi
The Daimonji Okuribi is an Obon event held in the Masaki district of Shimanto City on day 16 of lunar month 7.
A large character shape is laid out midway up Jūdaiji Mountain, with torches gathered from households in the district arranged and lit.
A seasonal highlight marking the end of summer in Little Kyoto Nakamura, the event is run by residents of the Masaki district.
Source: 観光案内～大文字の送り火～ - 四万十市公式ホームページ
Festival highlights
The highlight is the large character-shaped fire glowing on the mountain slope.
At the signal to light the fires, the torches are set alight, and the large character burns bright against the night mountain.
After the fire is lit, a ceremony and Bon Odori are also held in a nearby open area, where you can watch the local festivities along with performances.
Source: 大文字の送り火 | まっぷるウェブ / 四万十の「大文字」 - 関西学院大学 現代民俗学 島村恭則研究室
A large character-shaped fire lighting up the night sky, passed down at Jūdaiji Mountain
What to expect
The event begins in the morning with clearing the mountain and preparing firewood. In the evening, a Shinto rite for the mountain deity is held at a shrine on Jūdaiji Mountain.
This is followed by Bon Odori and taiko performances in the open area. At night, a signal firework cues the lighting of the large character.
The fire burns for a while, and the day’s events conclude after it is extinguished and everyone has descended the mountain.
How to take part
Residents of the Masaki district handle preparations and lighting the fires, while general visitors mainly enjoy the event as spectators.
Groups in the district take turns serving as duty teams, sharing tasks such as preparing firewood, performing Shinto rites, and lighting the fires.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Midway up Jūdaiji Mountain (locally known as Daimonji-yama).
It is located in Masaki, Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture.
- By car
It is a 25-minute drive from Nakamura Station.
Address Masaki, Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture
Dates and season
- Season
day 16 of lunar month 7
- Frequency
Every year
Accommodation and hotels PR
Showing nearby accommodation.
Prices and availability are current at the time of retrieval. For multi-night stays, only the first night’s price is shown. Confirm the final price and directions to the venue with the booking provider. Select your dates again when using the area search link. Search area: within 3 km of Central Kochi Prefecture / Shimanto City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The fires are lit on a mountain slope, and because the work involves fire and fireworks, please stay away from the work area and watch from a safe location.
The roads around the venue are mountain roads at night, so watch your step and wear comfortable footwear.
Please check the event status and spectator-area guidance in light of the weather before visiting.
Nearby attractions
Nearby attractions include Sada Chinkabashi Bridge, Shimanto River Station Canoe Hall, Iwama Chinkabashi Bridge, Anami Waterwheel Village, and the Shimanto River.
All are featured as attractions around Shimanto City and Nakamura, the same area as the Daimonji Okuribi.
If you plan to visit nearby attractions along with the event, check their opening status and transportation information.
四万十市郷土博物館
高知県の博物館・美術館のスポットです。
Origins and History of Daimonji Okuribi
According to tradition, Fusai, the son of Ichijō Norifusa, who fled the Ōnin War and settled in Nakamura, started this fire to comfort the spirits of his grandfather Kaneyoshi and his father Norifusa, and because he longed for Kyoto.
Another account, based on records from the late Edo period, says that a monk from Zenzenji Temple started the event during the Kyōhō era.
With few documents indicating its origins, the event has been passed down through oral tradition and practice by people in the Masaki district.
Official information
The Shimanto City official website provides an overview of the event, its origins, how it is run, and access to the venue under “Tourist Information: Daimonji Okuribi.”
For inquiries, contact the Tourism Section of the Tourism and Commerce Division, Shimanto City.
公式案内URL：観光案内～大文字の送り火～ - 四万十市公式ホームページ
Daimonji Okuribi at a Glance
The Daimonji Okuribi in the Masaki district of Shimanto City is an Obon event in which a large character-shaped fire is lit on the slope of Jūdaiji Mountain.
You can watch the fire, which local people have preserved, alongside the Shinto rite for the mountain deity, Bon Odori, and taiko performances.
The origins are associated both with a tradition linked to the Ichijō clan and with an account that the event began in the Edo period; these differing views of its history are also a distinctive feature of the event.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/19
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