# Wakakusa Yamayaki

> The dry grass on a whole hillside above Nara is burned off after dark, with fireworks first. One of the few big festivals in deep winter.

- Prefecture: Nara
- Type: Fire
- Admission: Free to attend
- Typically held: The fourth Saturday in January. There is no rain date: light rain and it goes ahead, bad weather and it is called off that morning, so keep the trip flexible.
- Official site: https://www.pref.nara.lg.jp/yamayaki/index.html

## Dates

- 2027-01-23 to 2027-01-23
- Status: provisional
- Dates verified on 2026-08-21 from https://www.pref.nara.lg.jp/yamayaki/index.html

Wakakusa is the round grassy hill behind Todai-ji, and once a year the whole face of it is set on fire. Fireworks go up first, which is unusual in winter and worth seeing on its own, and then the grass is lit from the base and the line of flame works its way up. The reason given for it has changed over the centuries, from a boundary dispute between temples to simple pest control, and nobody has settled the question. What is certain is that the hill has to be burned or it turns to scrub, so the practical version is probably the older one. It is over in well under an hour. The burn is visible from most of central Nara, so you do not need to be at the foot of the hill to see it, and the view from a distance is arguably better because you get the whole outline.

## Where it happens
- Mount Wakakusa
- Nara Park

## FAQ

### When is Wakakusa Yamayaki?

The fourth Saturday in January. It is one of the few Japanese festivals whose date moves with the calendar rather than sitting on a fixed day. There is no rain date, so bad weather cancels that year's burning rather than postponing it.

### Where is the best place to watch?

Anywhere with a clear line to the hill. Nara Park is the obvious choice and the most crowded; the open ground near the station and the approach to Todai-ji both work, and from further out you see the whole outline of the burn rather than a wall of flame.

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Source: Wakakusa Yamayaki — Japan Voyage