Read the Yoshida Fire Festival Across Two Days: What Connects the Night of Torches and the “Susuki Festival”

The Yoshida Fire Festival, where large torches light up the town. Many of its striking photos show the flames at night, but the festival is more than a single evening. Learn about both August 26 and the 27th, and you’ll see how the mikoshi heading into town and returning, the Fire Festival, and the Susuki Festival are connected. Take in the festivals at the foot of Mount Fuji by following the flow of time.

Don’t assume it’s a festival of just one shrine

Fujiyoshida City’s tourism information introduces the Yoshida Fire Festival as a festival of Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine and Suwa Shrine. Focusing only on the festival’s connection to Mount Fuji can make it easy to overlook Suwa Shrine, which has been passed down through generations in the local community. Knowing the names of the two shrines is the first clue to understanding the festival. (Fujiyoshida Tourism Guide, “Yoshida Fire Festival”）

The city’s historical account describes the festival’s development, citing records such as one from Genki 3 (1572). Rather than reducing its origins to a single phrase based only on the commonly heard idea of “the end of the mountain season,” consider it as a local festival documented in historical records. You may then appreciate how long the people of the town have upheld this tradition. (Fujiyoshida Tourism Guide, “Yoshida Fire Festival: History”）

On the 26th, the mikoshi head into town

Official information describes how the mikoshi proceed into town on the 26th, with the torches being lit from the evening onward. You can visit at night just to see the flames, but watching the mikoshi procession alongside the town’s preparations also lets you enjoy the changes leading up to the lighting of the torches. Check the information for the year of your visit for detailed times and routes. (Fujiyoshida Tourism Guide, “Yoshida Fire Festival”）

Checking the streets where you’ll watch and the route home while it’s still light makes it easier to get around than trying to find your way for the first time at night. Instead of crowding close to the torches you want to see, one option is to take in the townscape and the depth of the flames from within areas where passage is permitted. Follow on-site restrictions on how close you can get to the fire, and don’t block the flow of people to take photos.

The story comes together when you learn about the Susuki Festival on the 27th

The second day is presented as the “Susuki Festival,” alongside the return of the mikoshi. There are later rituals that you won’t learn about from photos of the 26th alone, and the way the festival concludes is also worth seeing. If you visit on both days, don’t think of it as seeing the same scene twice. Instead, pay attention to the difference between the day the mikoshi head into town and the day they return. (Fujiyoshida Tourism Guide, “Yoshida Fire Festival”）

Experiences to Choose From	Planning considerations
Focus on the night of torches	Plan around the evening of the 26th, and secure your return trip or accommodation first
Learn about the mikoshi procession, too	Check the routes and times for the current year, and plan time to watch during the day
Experience the flow of the two days	Check your plans for the 27th, and avoid overloading the following day with travel

Even if you can stay for only 1 day, knowing what happens on the other day can change the meaning of the scene in front of you. Rather than seeing everything, understanding where the scene you’re watching fits into the festival as a whole can make the experience more satisfying.

Think separately about your trip around Mount Fuji and the time you’ll spend at the festival

If you’re combining the festival with sightseeing in the area, try not to pack your daytime schedule too tightly. After a full day of travel and exploring, standing to watch at night and then heading home can make for a hectic evening. On the day you attend the festival, it’s a good idea to leave time to store your luggage early, eat, and take a break.

You may come drawn by the name Fire Festival, but by the time you leave, you might remember the mikoshi, the streets, and the movement of the people. Use a single photo of the night’s torches as a starting point, then broaden your view to encompass the two-day festival. See the end of summer in Fujiyoshida from this perspective.

Official sources consulted

• Fujiyoshida Tourism Guide, “Yoshida Fire Festival”
• Fujiyoshida Tourism Guide, “Yoshida Fire Festival: History”

This article is based on publicly available information from official sources, local government, tourism associations, and others. Information checked: 2026/10/01. Please check the official information for the year you plan to visit for the dates, venues, traffic restrictions, and participation requirements.

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