Yoshida Fire Festival (Yoshida no Himatsuri) 2026
To mark the close of Mt. Fuji's climbing season, around seventy three-meter torches blaze along the streets of Fujiyoshida — counted among Japan's three most unusual festivals.
When · Where
- When
- 2026/08/26 06:00 – 2026/08/27
- Where
- Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine & Suwa Shrine (Fujiyoshida)（5558 Kamiyoshida, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi）
- City
- Across Japan
- Getting there
- About a 20-minute walk from Fujisan Station on the Fujikyu Railway; the torches line the road between the station and the shrine.
- Price
- Free
Good to know for visitors
- Getting there
- About a 20-minute walk from Fujisan Station on the Fujikyu Railway; the torches line the road between the station and the shrine. Open directions in Google Maps ↗
- Booking & entry
- Free to attend — details on the official page (button above).
- Language
- Mostly in Japanese — a translation app on your phone helps.
- Good for
- culture seekers, groups of friends
Highlights
- Around 70 giant torches, each nearly 3 meters tall, set ablaze along the main street on the night of the 26th
- Two portable shrines, including a mikoshi shaped like Mt. Fuji, paraded through town
- The susuki-matsuri on the 27th, when worshippers carry pampas-grass wands around the shrine
Background & story
Held every August 26-27 at Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen and Suwa shrines, the fire festival closes Mt. Fuji's climbing season and prays for the safety of the volcano and its pilgrims.
Good to know
The torches are lit around 6-7pm on the 26th — the most dramatic time. Streets get crowded and smoky, so arrive before sunset and watch from the main approach road.