A spirit-sending ceremony passed down in Yura, lit by Buddhist chants and giant torches
Kokokuji Temple’s Lantern Burning
The 2026 edition of Kokokuji Temple’s Lantern Burning has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/08/15Ended
- Season / frequency
- August 15
- Location
- Kokokuji Temple
- Area
- Wakayama Prefecture・Yura Town(From Tokyo: approx. 3 h 30 min–4 h · 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.
- Features
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Participation fee
- Free
- Last updated
- 2026/11/11
Kokokuji Temple’s Lantern Burning is a fire ritual passed down as a spirit-sending ceremony during the Urabon-e observance. The memorial service, torch dance, giant torches, and lantern burning form a sequence of events.
About Kokokuji Temple’s Lantern Burning
Kokokuji Temple’s Lantern Burning is a spirit-sending ceremony held during the Urabon-e Obon observance, passed down at Kokokuji Temple in Yura Town, Hidaka District, Wakayama Prefecture.
Since Kokokuji Temple was founded, the event has been handed down as a series comprising Rokusai Nenbutsu, a torch dance, giant torches, and lantern burning.
Parishioners gather lanterns in the Hatto and hold a memorial service before moving on to the fire rituals.
It is designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property by the prefecture.
Festival highlights
A highlight is the lighting of the giant torches after the torch dance.
They light 4 giant torches called “doyō,” each 4 meters long and weighing 300 kilograms, and perform feats of skill.
Then, to the sound of Buddhist chants, bells, and the shakuhachi, lanterns from each household are cast into the fire, led by the founder’s lantern.
The movement of the fire and the sounds heard during the memorial rites are distinctive features of this event.
A spirit-sending ceremony passed down in Yura, lit by Buddhist chants and giant torches
What to expect
The event begins at dusk on August 15, when parishioners gather in the Hatto carrying large lanterns: white-covered ones for recently deceased family members and colored-paper ones for annual memorial observances.
After the memorial service, the procession moves to the fire pit and proceeds in the order of the torch dance, the giant torches, and the lantern burning.
Finally, with the founder’s lantern at the head, lanterns from each household are cast into the fire as Buddhist chants, bells, and the shakuhachi fill the air.
How to take part
参加費：無料
Location and access
- Venue and address
Kokokuji Temple (801 Monzen, Yura Town, Hidaka District, Wakayama Prefecture)
- Train and bus
10-minute walk from JR Kii-Yura Station
- By car
7 km via Route 42 from Hirokawa IC on the Yuasa-Gobo Road; 15-minute drive
- Parking
100 spaces · free
Address 801 Monzen, Yura Town, Hidaka District, Wakayama Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
It is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. on August 15, 2026 (Sat).
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 Wakayama Prefecture / Yura Town (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
白崎海洋公園
和歌山県日高郡由良町にある道の駅を併設する公園
Origins and History of Kokokuji Temple’s Lantern Burning
Kokokuji Temple’s Lantern Burning is an event passed down continuously since the temple was founded.
As a spirit-sending ceremony during the Urabon-e Obon observance, a series of events comprising Rokusai Nenbutsu, a torch dance, giant torches, and lantern burning has been handed down.
It was designated a prefecturally designated Intangible Folk Cultural Property in Showa 37, February 13.
No further information is provided about when it began or how it has changed over time.
Official information
Wakayama Prefecture’s cultural property information introduces the location, designation, program, and progression of Kokokuji Temple’s Lantern Burning.
Kokokuji Temple’s Lantern Burning at a Glance
Kokokuji Temple’s Lantern Burning is a prefecturally designated Intangible Folk Cultural Property, passed down as a spirit-sending ceremony during the Urabon-e Obon observance.
The program proceeds from a memorial service in the Hatto to the torch dance, giant torches, and lantern burning, featuring 4 giant torches measuring 4 meters long and weighing 300 kilograms, along with the sounds of Buddhist chanting, bells, and the shakuhachi.
The act of sending each household’s lantern into the fire expresses the prayers of the event.
Sources and references
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/11/11
