Ikoma’s traditional fire festival, where the sacred flame is passed on and north and south compete
Ikoma (Ikoma Imasu Ikoma Tsuhiko Shrine) Fire Festival
The 2026 edition of Ikoma (Ikoma Imasu Ikoma Tsuhiko Shrine) Fire Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/10/10 〜 2026/10/11Ended
- Season / frequency
- The fire festival takes place the day before Sports Day in October, with the eve-of-festival celebration held the day before that. / Once a year
- Location
- Ikoma Taisha Shrine
- Area
- Nara Prefecture・Ikoma City(From Tokyo: approx. 3 h–3 h 30 min · bullet train + connecting train)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.
- Wishes behind the festival
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
The fire festival at Ikoma Taisha Shrine is a traditional event in Ikoma that welcomes the god of fire and celebrates the autumn harvest. After the procession, , and Benzui-mai dance, torchbearers carrying torches race down the stone steps.
About Ikoma (Ikoma Imasu Ikoma Tsuhiko Shrine) Fire Festival
The Ikoma Fire Festival is a grand annual festival at Ikoma Taisha Shrine that welcomes the god of fire.
The mikoshi procession brings the deity from the main sanctuary to the temporary sanctuary. Through events such as the offering of sacred food and the giant torches, people celebrate and give thanks for the autumn harvest.
As an event handed down in the Ikoma Valley area, it is designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Nara Prefecture.
Source: 火祭り | 往馬大社
Festival highlights
Highlights include the offering race, in which people split into north and south groups and compete for speed, the giant torches, and the torchbearers’ descent, the festival’s climax.
For the descent, torchbearers receive torches, race down the 7 steps in front of the raised platform, and run through the temporary sanctuary.
The eve-of-festival celebration also features the burning of prayer sticks and a dedication of shrine drums.
Ikoma’s traditional fire festival, where the sacred flame is passed on and north and south compete
What to expect
The event begins with the mikoshi procession, in which the mikoshi travels from the main sanctuary to the temporary sanctuary.
This is followed in turn by the offering of sacred food, the giant torches, Naniwa kagura, and the Benzui-mai dance, before the torchbearers’ descent.
The eve-of-festival celebration features a children’s mikoshi procession, the burning of prayer sticks, and a dedication of shrine drums.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Ikoma Taisha (1527-1 Ichibu-cho, Ikoma, Nara Prefecture).
- Train and bus
A 7-minute walk from Ichibu Station on the Kintetsu Ikoma Line.
There is also a route by bus from the south exit of Ikoma Station toward Nakanoshibatake 2-chome, followed by an approximately 5-minute walk from the Nakanoshibatake 2-chome bus stop.
- By car
2026年は宵宮14:00～23:00、火祭り10:00～18:00に通行止めが実施され、車での参拝は控えるよう案内されています。
- Parking
There are no large coin-operated parking lots near the .
The nearest large coin-operated parking lots are around Ikoma Station, but please avoid parking at nearby supermarkets or convenience stores.
Address 1527-1 Ichibu-cho, Ikoma, Nara Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
In 2026, October 10 is the eve-of-festival celebration, and October 11 is the fire festival.
The eve-of-festival celebration includes the lighting of the festival fire and the burning of prayer sticks from 6 p.m., followed by a dedication of shrine drums from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The main festival begins with the mikoshi procession at 3 p.m., followed by the giant torches at around 3:40 p.m. and the torchbearers’ descent at around 4 p.m.
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 Nara Prefecture / Ikoma City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
Road closures are in effect around the jinja on the day of the Fire Festival, and visitors are advised to use public transportation such as trains and buses.
There are no large coin-operated parking lots near the jinja, and parking at nearby supermarkets or convenience stores is prohibited.
Events such as the fire-taking ceremony use the steps and , so please follow instructions from staff and fellow visitors at the site.
Nearby attractions
Hozanji Temple in Monzen-cho, Ikoma City, is highlighted as a nearby attraction.
Hozanji Temple is said to have been founded as a place for ascetic practice by En no Gyoja and Kobo Daishi, and was developed by Hozan Tankai in Enpo 6 (1678).
If you plan to visit other attractions as part of your trip, check each facility’s visiting hours and transport information in advance.
Source: 往馬大社火祭り｜往馬大社｜奈良県観光[公式サイト] あをによし なら旅ネット｜生駒市｜生駒・信貴・斑鳩・葛城エリア｜イベント・体験
往馬坐伊古麻都比古神社
奈良県生駒市にある神社
生駒山上遊園地
奈良県生駒市にある遊園地
Origins and History of Ikoma (Ikoma Imasu Ikoma Tsuhiko Shrine) Fire Festival
The origins of the fire festival are unclear, but mandalas from the Kamakura and Muromachi periods depict the building used as the festival’s temporary sanctuary in a form much like the one seen today.
Records of the torchbearers’ descent date back to the 18th century, and the festival is thought to have been held by that time.
A preservation association was formed in Heisei 14, and the festival was designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Nara Prefecture in Heisei 23.
Source: 奈良祭時記 / 奈良県
Official information
See Ikoma Taisha Shrine’s official “Fire Festival” page for details.
Information is provided on the event’s origins, highlights, schedule, access, and road closures.
Ikoma Taisha Shrine is located at 1527-1 Ichibu-cho, Ikoma, Nara Prefecture.
Source: 往馬大社 | 生駒山の麓に鎮座する生駒の氏神さま
Ikoma (Ikoma Imasu Ikoma Tsuhiko Shrine) Fire Festival at a Glance
The Ikoma Fire Festival is a fire ritual handed down at Ikoma Taisha Shrine.
The 2026 event information listed the mikoshi togyo, kagura, Bensui dance, great torches, and fire-taking ceremony, among other events, for the eve festival on October 10 and the main festival on October 11.
The north-south competition and the torchbearers racing down the steps are major highlights.
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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