Kurama Fire Festival 2026

Dates & time: October 22, 2026 (Thu) 9:00 Reisai rite in the main hall / 18:00 Bonfires at every house are lit at the herald's signal and the torch procession begins. After the shimenawa-cutting rite it shifts to the mikoshi procession, closing with kagura at the otabisho. Kyoto City's tourism site lists it as running until after midnight.
cost: Free to watch from the roadside
Venue & access: Yuki Shrine and along the Kurama Kaido road About 6 min on foot from Kurama Station on the Eizan Railway. From 15:00 on the day, vehicles are restricted between Kibuneguchi and Kurama Onsen and car parks close all day, so come by public transport.

There are 4 car parks within a 12-minute walk of Yuki Shrine and along the Kurama Kaido road, and 2 public restrooms within 8 minutes. The map shows each with its walking time.

Facility data comes from OpenStreetMap. It does not include opening hours, fees or availability.

Calendar

Add it to your calendar so you can check back on it later.

Google Calendar Apple Calendar (.ics)

We hope it gives you a reason to head out together.

X FB LINE

Why You Should Visit

The annual festival of Yuki Shrine, held every October 22 and counted among Kyoto's three most unusual festivals. A rite is performed in the main hall in the morning; at 6pm, on the herald's call, bonfires stacked outside every house in Kurama are lit at once. Children carrying small torches are joined by young men with huge ones, parading along the Kurama road. The shimenawa-cutting rite turns the torch festival into a mikoshi festival, closing with the return rite on the morning of the 23rd.

NOTE

Restrictions at the Sanmon Gate

Before the Shinko-sai (the fire festival proper) begins, the area in front of Kurama's Sanmon Gate is closed off as sacred ground, and you can't go beyond the gate (Yuki Shrine).

Eizan Railway

The railway runs a special fire-festival timetable on the day. In 2024 it warned that boarding would be restricted, that passengers might not get on even after waiting, and that service to Kurama would be halted on police instructions if the area became too crowded; the last train from Kurama left at 23:25. The 2026 timetable has not yet been announced.

History Heritage Events Festivals Photo Spots Night View Free Cheap

出典: 由岐神社公式サイト

Kobe · Gluten-free

Events

Where to go next

View Recommended Events →

10/11

Yase Shamenchi Odori

Yase Akimoto Shrine (Yase Elementary School gym if it rains)

10/10 - 10/15

Awata Matsuri 2026

Awata Shrine and the surrounding parish area (procession)

10/11

Misu Taimatsu Matsuri (Giant Torch Festival)

Around Misu Kaikan and Takeda-kaido Street, Misu Shrine neighborhood

10/18

Jonan Matsuri 2026

Jonangu Shrine and the surrounding parish area (procession)

10/18

Saigu Procession (Nonomiya Shrine)

Nonomiya Shrine and around Arashiyama

5/2 - 3/20

Kobe Port Weekend Fireworks 2026–27 | Weekend Fireworks off Meriken Park

Meriken Park

9/19 - 12/26

EAT LOCAL KOBE Farmers Market

Higashi Yuenchi Park, Chuo-ku, Kobe

10/3 - 10/11

Kobe Motomachi Music Week (27th)

Kobe Motomachi Shopping Street (1-bangai to 6-chome) and nearby halls

FAQ

How do I get to Kurama? Can I drive?

Take the Eizan Railway from Demachiyanagi to the end of the line at Kurama; Yuki Shrine is about 6 minutes' walk from the station. You can't drive: from 15:00 general traffic is barred between Kibuneguchi and Kurama Onsen, and every car park is closed all day.

Will the trains be crowded? Can I get back?

Very. In 2024 the railway ran a special timetable and warned that boarding would be restricted, that you might not get on even after queuing, and that service to Kurama would stop on police instructions if the area became too crowded. The last train back from Kurama was at 23:25. Check the Eizan Railway's announcement for the 2026 timetable.

Can I watch from the steps at the Sanmon Gate?

No. Before the Shinko-sai begins, the area in front of the Sanmon Gate is closed off as sacred ground and you can't go beyond the gate. You watch from along the Kurama road.

Can I see the Jidai Matsuri on the same day?

The timings don't clash. The Jidai procession leaves the Kyoto Imperial Palace at 12:00 and reaches Heian Jingu around 14:30, while Kurama's bonfires are lit at 18:00. Allow time for the queue for the Eizan Railway at Demachiyanagi.

Events
BEUTEA Pop-Up at Daimaru Kobe: Chinese Tea Selling Out by 3:30pm Daily
BEUTEA, a premium Chinese tea brand from Malaysia whose first Japan store in Nagoya drew queues of up to an hour, has its first Kobe pop-up at Daimaru Kobe until October 17, 2026. It has sold out every day, and the brand expects each day's stock to run out around 3:30pm. Menu with prices, location inside the store and hours.