Daimonji Fire Festival (Daimonji Gozan Okuribi)Kyoto, Japan
Mid August
DescriptionWatch the mountains of Kyoto light up the night sky at this dynamic summer event. Look first to Mt. Nyoigatake in the Higashiyama mountain range, where bonfires burn in the shape of the Chinese character
dai, meaning "large."
Turn then to the surrounding hills, where a number of smaller fires come to life to create characters such as Myoho, the Chinese character meaning "supreme law of Buddha;" Funagata, a pictograph of a ship; Hidari, meaning "left;" and Toriigata, a pictograph of a shrine archway.
Witnesses to Kyoto's Daimonji Festival will forever remember this striking scene, which is featured on so many of Kyoto's postcards.
Websitehttp://www.pref.kyoto.jp/topmenu_e.html
