A Nara night illuminated by sacred fire and fireworks, with flames spreading across Mount Wakakusa
Mount Wakakusa Yamayaki
The 2026 edition of Mount Wakakusa Yamayaki has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/01/24Ended
- Season / frequency
- Every year on the 4th Saturday of January / Once a year
- Location
- Mount Wakakusa
- Area
- Nara Prefecture・Nara 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.
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Participation fee
- Admission tickets to the paid viewing area are ¥2,000 (junior high school students and older). Children in elementary school and younger enter free, with 1 child admitted free per accompanying adult.
- Age restrictions
- Admission to the paid viewing area is ¥2,000 for junior high school students and older. Children in elementary school and younger enter free, with 1 child admitted free per accompanying adult.
- Official website / social media
- Official website
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
Mount Wakakusa Yamayaki heralds the arrival of early spring in Nara. A torchlight procession carrying the sacred fire, fireworks illuminating the night sky, and flames enveloping Mount Wakakusa unfold over one evening.
About Mount Wakakusa Yamayaki
Mount Wakakusa Yamayaki is a traditional event held every year on the 4th Saturday of January on Mount Wakakusa in Nara City.
Sacred fire associated with Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Kofukuji Temple, and Todaiji Temple is carried to the foot of the mountain, which is set alight all at once after the fireworks.
The event has been passed down as a way to pray for the repose and memorialization of the spirits of ancestors, fire prevention throughout Nara, world peace, and more.
The flames and fireworks can be viewed from around Mount Wakakusa and Nara Park.
Source: 若草山焼き行事／若草山｜行事・イベント｜奈良市観光協会公式サイト
Festival highlights
Highlights include the large fireworks launched from 6:15 p.m. and the flames spreading over the mountainside afterward.
Around 600 fireworks are listed for 2026, and around 300 members of the Nara City Fire Brigade will set fire to the mountain simultaneously at 6:30 p.m.
The torchlight procession carrying the sacred fire, signals from conch shells and trumpets, and the sight of the entire mountain going up in flames make a strong impression as the event unfolds.
The paid viewing area at the foot of the mountain offers close-up views of the fireworks and the mountain burning.
Source: 特集2 / 奈良県
A Nara night illuminated by sacred fire and fireworks, with flames spreading across Mount Wakakusa
What to expect
The event begins with a ceremony to receive the sacred fire from the Kasuga Great Bonfire.
A torchlight procession carries the sacred fire to Nogami Shrine at the foot of Mount Wakakusa, where a ceremony is held and a large bonfire is lit.
Fireworks follow at 6:15 p.m., and at 6:30 p.m. members of the Nara City Fire Brigade set fire to the mountain simultaneously.
Depending on the weather, the mountain may take around 30 minutes to 1 hour to finish burning after it is lit.
How to take part
Visitors can watch the event.
参加費：有料観覧エリアの入場券は2,000円（中学生以上）。
Children in elementary school and younger enter free, with 1 child admitted free per accompanying adult.
対象年齢：有料観覧エリアは中学生以上2,000円。
Children in elementary school and younger enter free, with 1 child admitted free per accompanying adult.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Mount Wakakusa (Zoshicho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture).
- Train and bus
From Kintetsu Nara Station, it is about a 30-minute walk, or take a Nara Kotsu bus to Todaiji Daibutsuden/Kasuga Taisha-mae and walk about 15 minutes, or ride to the last stop on the bus bound for Kasuga Taisha and walk about 5 minutes.
From JR Nara Station, take the city loop bus to Todaiji Daibutsuden/Kasuga Taisha-mae and walk about 15 minutes, or ride to the last stop on the bus bound for Kasuga Taisha Honden and walk about 5 minutes.
- By car
Traffic restrictions apply to the Shin-Wakakusayama Course on the Nara Okuyama Driveway on the day of the event.
- Parking
There is no parking dedicated to the Mount Wakakusa Yamayaki event.
Traffic restrictions and congestion are expected on nearby roads.
Source: 若草山麓へのアクセス / 奈良県
Address Zoshicho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture 630-8211
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
The 2026 Mount Wakakusa Yamayaki event was announced as scheduled for January 24 (Sat).
The program is scheduled to include the Sacred Fire Reception Ceremony from 4:45 p.m., the torchlight procession from 5:05 p.m., large fireworks from 6:15 p.m., and the simultaneous lighting of the mountain from 6:30 p.m.
The event will be canceled in severe weather, with no rescheduling for a later date.
The event is held annually on the 4th Saturday of January.
Source: 若草山焼き行事のよくある質問 / 奈良県
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 / Nara City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The area around the venue gets crowded, especially around the fireworks, so allow plenty of time to get there and secure a viewing spot early.
There is no dedicated parking, and traffic restrictions are scheduled on nearby roads on the day, so visitors are advised to use public transportation.
The event may be canceled due to severe weather, strong winds, heavy snow, or other conditions, and even light rain may prevent the mountain from catching fire.
Avoid parking on the street or without permission, and entering private property without permission. Please follow viewing etiquette and traffic rules.
Nearby attractions
Nara Park is near the venue and can be visited along with Mount Wakakusa.
Attractions in Nara Park include Todaiji Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Tamukeyama Hachimangu Shrine, and the Kasugayama Primeval Forest.
Mount Wakakusa has a shape resembling three overlapping kasa hats, and its summit observatory offers views of the nighttime scenery of historic Nara.
Traffic restrictions will be in place in connection with the event, so plan trips to nearby facilities with traffic conditions in mind.
Source: 若草山焼きの起源 / 奈良県
中野美術館
奈良県奈良市にある美術館
依水園
奈良県奈良市にある日本庭園
写真：Kimon Berlin ( Gribeco ) / CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo source ·
入江泰𠮷記念奈良市写真美術館
奈良県奈良市にある美術館
吉城園
奈良県奈良市の日本庭園
大和文華館
日本の私立美術館
奈良公園
奈良市の公園
奈良国立博物館
奈良市にある国立博物館
奈良市史料保存館
奈良県奈良市にある博物館
奈良県立美術館
奈良県奈良市にある美術館
寧楽美術館
奈良県奈良市にある博物館
平城京左京三条二坊宮跡庭園
奈良県奈良市三条大路にある庭園遺構
手向山八幡宮
奈良県奈良市にある神社
Origins and History of Mount Wakakusa Yamayaki
One account of the origins of Mount Wakakusa Yamayaki says that people began setting fire to the mountain on their own because of a ghost-related superstition surrounding Uguisuzuka Kofun on the summit.
As the risk of fire spreading to Todaiji Temple and nearby temples and shrines persisted, toward the end of the Edo period, Todaiji Temple, Kofukuji Temple, and the Nara Magistrate's Office began overseeing the burning of the mountain.
The event became a nighttime event in Meiji 33, fireworks were added in Showa 21, and since Heisei 21 it has been held on the 4th Saturday of January.
Official information
Official information about the Mount Wakakusa Yamayaki event is available on the website of the Mount Wakakusa Yamayaki Event Executive Committee.
Nara Prefecture's information covers the origins, the mountain burning and fireworks, the torchlight procession, access, frequently asked questions, and more.
A paid viewing area will be set up in 2026, and information on how to purchase tickets is available.
Mount Wakakusa Yamayaki at a Glance
Mount Wakakusa Yamayaki is a traditional event in Nara City featuring a torchlight procession carrying the sacred fire, fireworks, and the simultaneous lighting of the mountain.
In 2026, the event will take place on January 24, with the mountain burning beginning at 6:30 p.m., following the fireworks at 6:15 p.m.
There is no dedicated parking near the venue, and traffic restrictions are planned, so public transportation is a suitable option.
Use of the paid viewing area costs 2,000 yen for junior high school students and older.
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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