A summer festival for praying for a good harvest, with fiery characters and lights illuminating the village from Mt. Rokkaku
Yama no Kami Hi Matsuri
The 2026 edition of Yama no Kami Hi Matsuri has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/08/15Ended
- Season / frequency
- Held annually on August 15 / Held annually
- Location
- Around Teramura Shopping Street
- Area
- Ehime Prefecture・Uchiko Town(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 25 min–1 h 45 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.
- Features
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Participation fee
- Free
- Last updated
- 2026/11/11
The Yama no Kami Hi Matsuri, passed down in Teramura, Uchiko Town, is a traditional event in which fires are offered to the mountain deity to pray for a good autumn harvest. Fiery characters and Ohikari on Mt. Rokkaku, night stalls, and fireworks bring color to summer in Teramura.
About Yama no Kami Hi Matsuri
The Yama no Kami Hi Matsuri is a traditional event passed down in Teramura, Uchiko Town. Fires are offered to the mountain deity to pray for a good autumn harvest.
It began in Bunsei 6 (1823) and was originally held on day 20 of lunar month 7, but since Showa 52 it has been held on August 15 of the Gregorian calendar.
Today, Mt. Rokkaku and the area around Teramura Shopping Street are the setting for fiery characters, lights, and night stalls.
Festival highlights
The main highlight is the fiery characters spelling “Yama no Kami” below Mt. Rokkaku and the Ohikari lights that illuminate the mountainside.
The Ohikari are described as comprising about 4000 lights, which combine with the nighttime rural scenery to create an enchanting view.
Night stalls line Teramura Shopping Street, and fireworks, Kikoritaiko drumming, and live music add to the festivities.
A summer festival for praying for a good harvest, with fiery characters and lights illuminating the village from Mt. Rokkaku
What to expect
On the day of the festival, all those assigned to serve climb to the summit of Mt. Rokkaku, where the mountain deity is enshrined, and chant Buddhist prayers to the sound of a bell and drums.
Afterward, they wait for dusk and go around lighting the offerings known as “Ohikari.”
Night stalls, fireworks, taiko drumming, and live music take place along Teramura Shopping Street, shaping the evening’s festivities.
How to take part
参加費：無料
Location and access
- Venue and address
Around Teramura Shopping Street / Teramura, Uchiko Town, Kita District, Ehime Prefecture
- By car
18 km from Uchiko-Ikarizaki IC on the Matsuyama Expressway via National Routes 379 and 380, about 25 minutes
- Parking
550 spaces in 2026, free
Address Teramura, Uchiko Town, Kita District, Ehime Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed event date has passed)
Scheduled for August 15, 2026 (Saturday).
The guide lists the event hours as 6 p.m.–10 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 Ehime Prefecture / Uchiko Town (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The main sites are Mt. Rokkaku and the area around Teramura Shopping Street.
As fiery characters and Ohikari are described as part of the nighttime scenery, planning to attend after dusk makes it easier to follow the event.
The event also includes chanting Buddhist prayers at the summit of Mt. Rokkaku, where the mountain deity is enshrined.
Nearby attractions
五十崎凧博物館
愛媛県内子町にある凧の博物館
内子町木蠟資料館上芳我邸
内子町にある資料館
Origins and History of Yama no Kami Hi Matsuri
The Yama no Kami Hi Matsuri began in Bunsei 6 (1823) and was originally held on day 20 of lunar month 7.
Since Showa 52, the event has been held on August 15 of the Gregorian calendar. The original rotating duty system, in which 15 local households took turns, changed in Showa 47 to a system based on groups in each area, and in Reiwa 4 (2022) to a rotation among teams made up of 2 groups.
It was designated an Uchiko Town Intangible Folk Cultural Property in Showa 57 April 1.
Official information
The Uchiko Town website’s “Yama no Kami Hi Matsuri” guide provides the event’s name, location, designation category, origins, program, and preservation group.
The guide lists the telephone number for the Oda Branch Office of Uchiko Town Hall as 0892-52-3111 for inquiries.
Yama no Kami Hi Matsuri at a Glance
The Yama no Kami Hi Matsuri is a traditional event in Teramura, dating back to Bunsei 6 (1823), in which fires are offered to the mountain deity to pray for a good autumn harvest.
The fiery characters spelling “Yama no Kami” on Mt. Rokkaku and the Ohikari lights create a nighttime scene, while night stalls, fireworks, taiko drumming, and live music take place along Teramura Shopping Street.
Centered on the duty group’s prayers and offerings of fire on Mt. Rokkaku, the event brings together local prayers and summer festivities.
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
