Mt. Takao Hiwatari Festival Fire Walking

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

Arden Kreuzer

San Diego-born, Tokyo-based Arden is a writer and editor with a master’s in International Relations from Waseda University. With a background in sociology, East Asian history and journalism, she brings a thoughtful, cross-cultural lens to her work. As a senior editor at Metropolis Magazine, Arden works across print, digital and social media platforms, covering everything from cultural deep-dives to international affairs. Rain or shine, she can often be found on a terrace in one of Tokyo’s shitamachi neighborhoods, observing the everyday details that make the city so compelling.