Mountain Roast
Near: Nara (Event is Free)
Event Date(s):
Jan. 29, 2025
(4th Saturday of January)
Dates are subject to change without notice. Check with the official organizers before making travel arrangements.
The Japanese "Mountain Roast" (in Japanese "Yama Yaki" 山焼き) is held on the fourth Saturday of each January. In this "Festival", the dead grass of Mt. Wakakusa is burned, therefore "Mountian Roast". The tradition (festival) supposedly started from a boundary dispute between two temples, the Todai-ji temple and the Kōfuku-ji temple in the year 1760. Talks failed and the entire mountain was set ablaze. However, there is another explanation that suggests the mountain was set ablaze to exterminate wild boars. Today the festival starts with a ceremonial igniting by members of both temples, and then a fireworks display. If the weather is too bad, the festival may be postponed.
Kasugano-cho, Nara 630-8211 Japan
