Goma fire rituals are performed a number of times between midnight and 5 P.M. on New Year’s Day before Izuna Daigongen, whose image in the Main Hall is on public display. The ritual is performed to pray for family health and happiness throughout the coming year. The ritualist on this occasion is the head priest of Yakuo-in, who performs the goma for the sake of the thousands of people who visit the temple on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

At sunrise, the summit of the mountain reverberates with the sound of the conch shells blown by yamabushi (mountain ascetics) and the sutras recited by the priests, as people gather to welcome the first day of the year. This is called Geikosai, the festival to welcome the light.

Information

Start: Jan 1st 2026 at 12:00am

End: Jan 1st 2026 at 5:00pm

Mount Takao

https://www.takaosan.or.jp/english/events.html

￥FREE