Oniyo Fire Festival 2026: Kurume’s Blazing New Year Ritual
Kyushu-Okinawa · FukuokaFestival
Six colossal burning torches light up a midwinter night at one of Japan’s three great fire festivals.
Overview
The Oniyo Fire Festival is a dramatic New Year purification rite held every January at Daizenji Tamataregu Shrine in Kurume, southern Fukuoka. Believed to date back around 1,600 years, it is counted among Japan’s three great fire festivals. Bare-shouldered men haul six enormous flaming torches around the shrine grounds while embers rain down, in a spectacle meant to drive away misfortune and disease for the year ahead.
When & Where
The festival takes place annually on the night of January 7, with events running from roughly the early afternoon until about 23:30 and the great torches lit after nightfall. It is held at Daizenji Tamataregu Shrine in the Daizenji district of Kurume. Nearest station: Daizenji on the Nishitetsu Tenjin Omuta Line.
Getting There
From Fukuoka, take the Nishitetsu Tenjin Omuta Line south toward Omuta and alight at Daizenji Station; the shrine is about a five-minute walk. From JR Kurume or Nishitetsu Kurume you can transfer locally. Trains back to the city run late but check the last departure, as crowds are heavy when the torches burn. Dress warmly and wear clothes and shoes you do not mind getting singed by stray sparks.
What to Expect
The centrepiece is the lighting of six giant torches known as daishomei, each several metres long and weighing over a tonne. Teams of men hoist and swing them beneath the shrine’s tower gate as sparks scatter over the crowd—contact with the embers is thought to bring good health. Taiko drumming, a sacred fire drawn within the shrine, and dense smoke give the night a primal, roaring atmosphere.
Tickets & Access
Admission is free and no reservation is required. There is no reserved seating; viewing is from the shrine precincts and surrounding lanes, which fill quickly. Because burning debris falls near the torch route, keep a sensible distance and follow the guidance of stewards.
Tips for Visitors
Arrive before dark to find a spot, then hold your position as the crowd swells. Temperatures are near freezing, so bring gloves and hand warmers. A hat and a non-synthetic outer layer help guard against sparks. Photographers should protect lenses from smoke and ash.
Access and Map
| Dates | January 7, 2026 (annually); torches lit after dark, until approx. 23:30 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Daizenji Tamataregu Shrine, Daizenji-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka |
| Access | About 5 min walk from Daizenji Station (Nishitetsu Tenjin Omuta Line) |
| Admission | Free |
| Official site | Kurume City Official Tourism Guide |
Source: Kurume City Official Tourism Guide
Image: Photo: sta3816 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0
