Mt. Takao Fire-Walking Festival
Mar 09, 2026 at 1:00pm ~ Mar 09, 2026 at 5:00pm
The Mt. Takao Fire-Walking Festival takes place at Takao-san Yakuo-in, a historic Buddhist temple near the summit of Mt. Takao. The annual ritual is rooted in mountain ascetic practices performed by yamabushi monks and draws visitors from across the Kanto region.
During the ceremony, monks chant prayers and walk barefoot across burning embers created from a sacred fire, symbolizing purification and prayers for safety, health and protection from accidents. Once the flames have fully died down, members of the public are invited to take part in the fire-walking ritual themselves. Participants typically bring a small towel to clean their feet afterward.
Information
Start: Mar 9th 2026 at 1:00pm
End: Mar 9th 2026 at 5:00pm