Key-shaped fires floating in the night sky above Mount Mando
Kagi Mando
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Event status
- Cancelled
- Season / frequency
- Every year on August 14 / Every year
- Location
- Western slope of Mount Mando
- Area
- Aichi Prefecture・Nishio City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 40 min–2 h · bullet 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.
- Features
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
Kagi Mando is a fire festival held on Mount Mando in Kaifuki-cho, Nishio City, on a Bon night, when piles of brushwood are set alight. Its defining features are the key-shaped line of fire on the slope and the several origin stories passed down in the community.
About Kagi Mando
Kagi Mando is a fire festival held on the night of August 14 on the western slope of Mount Mando in Kaifuki-cho, Nishio City.
Piles of brushwood called “tsobora (suzumi)” are arranged and set alight. From a distance, the line of fire appears in the shape of a key.
It is also designated as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property by Nishio City.
Source: 鍵万灯｜西尾市公式ウェブサイト
Festival highlights
The highlight is when the piles of brushwood arranged along the slope of Mount Mando are lit all at once, and a key-shaped line of fire appears in the night sky.
The 108 tsobora (suzumi) are built in a hooked shape, creating a dramatic spectacle unique to a fire festival.
The fires are lit between around 8:30 and 9 p.m.; the end time varies depending on how the fires burn and on the weather.
Source: 西尾いきものふれあいの里紹介（サブゾーン）｜西尾市公式ウェブサイト
Key-shaped fires floating in the night sky above Mount Mando
What to expect
For the festival, piles of brushwood called tsobora (suzumi) are arranged along the western slope of Mount Mando and set alight at night.
From a distance, visitors watch as the fires lining the slope appear in the shape of a key.
The fires die down in about 20–30 minutes, making this a festival that visitors watch over a short, concentrated period.
How to take part
No information is available about general public participation in lighting the fires.
Visitors can enjoy the festival by watching the key-shaped line of fire that appears on the western slope of Mount Mando.
The fires are lit between around 8:30 and 9 p.m.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Western slope of Mount Mando (Kaifuki-cho, Nishio City, Aichi Prefecture).
- By car
It is about 14 km from the Okazaki Interchange on the Tomei Expressway.
- Parking
The “Nishio Ikimono Fureai no Sato Parking Lot” north of Mount Mando is free and has space for 10 vehicles.
There is also a parking lot with the same name beside the Nature Center on the southwest side. It is free and has space for 30 vehicles.
Source: 貝吹の鍵万燈｜西尾市【2026年は開催しません】 | ニッポン旅マガジン
Address Kaifuki-cho, Nishio City, Aichi Prefecture
Dates and season
The festival will not be held in 2026.
It is usually held on the night of August 14, with the fires lit between around 8:30 and 9 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 Aichi Prefecture / Nishio City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The venue is on the western slope of Mount Mando, at an elevation of just over 160 meters, and can be reached via mountain paths and stairs.
Since it takes place for only a short time at night, it’s best to arrive early so you’re there by the lighting time.
The festival may be canceled in rain or strong winds, so check its status if the weather is unsettled.
Nearby attractions
Choenji Temple is at the northern foot of Mount Mando, where the mausoleum of Itakura Katsushige is also featured.
The Mount Mando area of Nishio Ikimono Fureai no Sato is near Mount Mando. Visitors can walk through areas such as the Butterfly Path, the Cherry Blossom Tree-Lined Path, and the Wild Bird Forest.
It’s a place where you can experience the mountain’s natural surroundings and the area’s history along with the festival.
伊文神社
日本の愛知県西尾市にある神社
西尾市岩瀬文庫
Museums
Toba Shinmeisha
愛知県西尾市鳥羽町にある神社
Origins and History of Kagi Mando
There is no single established account of Kagi Mando’s origins or when it began.
Historical documents from after the founding of Choenji Temple record that local residents lit mandō lanterns to honor those who died in battles during the Sengoku period.
Meanwhile, the 1769 work “Tomou-zura Yumemonogatari” records a theory that the festival began to appease the spirits of people killed in conflicts between temples around 1084–1094.
Official information
Nishio City’s official website, under “Kagi Mando,” provides information about the venue, the fire festival, several theories about its origins, and the possibility of cancellation due to weather.
The Nishio City Tourism Association website is also listed as a related source.
Kagi Mando at a Glance
Kagi Mando is a fire festival held every year on August 14 on Mount Mando in Kaifuki-cho, Nishio City.
Fires are lit in 108 tsobora, forming a key-shaped line of fire in the night sky.
There are several theories about its origins, and it has been passed down as a ritual to appease those who died in war or as victims of conflict.
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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