An unusual festival near Osaka
Mount Wakakusayama, which rises to 342 meters, is an ancient volcano whose slopes are completely ignited during a festival held on the fourth Saturday of January.
Background
The tradition is said to have originated because of a border dispute between the Kofuku-ji Temple located in Nobori Oji-Cho, the city of Nara, and Todai-ji , of Zoshi-cho, which is also in the city of Nara. The dispute having taken an unhealthy turn, a civil servant was appointed to serve as mediator. He went to the centre of the conflict, Mount Wakakusayama, and set fire to it. This took place in 1760, so the tradition goes back hundreds of years. Another legend says that this mountain was set on fire to scare away dangerous animals and kill harmful insects.
A sleeping volcano is set ablaze
A torch is lit with the sacred fire of the Kasuga Taisha temple. The fire is then brought to a small shrine at the foot of the hill by a procession of Buddhist monks. Members representing the temples of Kofuku-ji, Todai-ji and Kasuga Taisha set fire to the dry grass and the hill burns, lighting up 200 fireworks in the process.
The show is visible from the surrounding towns but it is of course from Nara ( which is 45 min drive from Osaka) that you can see the best. Don't forget that the winter is cold in Japan and you will need to bring warm clothes.
What to visit in Nara?
Nara Prefecture has the distinction of having more monuments listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites than any other prefecture in Japan even though it is the smallest. On the spot you will have the possibility to visit the temples of which those quoted above: Todai-ji shelters in particular a giant Buddha. But the region has some 36 temples in all, including the palace of Heijō. Be careful because Mount Wakakusayama will not be accessible during the Yamayaki festival.
How do I get there?
After finding a cheap flight to Japan on Skyscanner, to Osaka or Kyoto in particular, it is then possible to easily reach Nara by train. Once at Nara's Kintetsu station, it's only a 20-minute walk to reach the festival site: Mount Wakakusayama.
