Conch shells sound, a fire built of prayer sticks burns down to embers, and then people walk across it in bare feet.
Overview
Mount Mitoku in Tottori has been a centre of Shugendo, the mountain asceticism that blends Buddhism with older mountain worship, for more than a thousand years. Its temple, Sanbutsuji, holds a fire festival each autumn built around two rites: the saito goma, in which yamabushi ascetics throw prayer sticks written with visitors wishes into a great fire, and the hiwatari, the fire-walking, which is said to protect health and grant long-held wishes.
The unusual part is that the fire-walking is open to anyone present. This is not a demonstration performed at a distance; you can queue and cross the embers yourself for a small fee.
When and where
The festival is held on the last Sunday of October, which in 2026 falls on Sunday 25 October. The programme runs from about 9:30 in the morning to 15:00 in the temple precinct. The great fire rite begins in the early afternoon, with the fire-walking following at around 14:15 and a closing burning of old talismans at 15:00.
Getting there
Mount Mitoku is in Misasa, about 40 minutes by bus from JR Kurayoshi station on the Sanin main line. On festival day cars are directed to designated parking with a free shuttle bus running to the temple through the morning and afternoon, so driving in is not necessary.
What to expect
The morning is a village fair: bamboo-cup sake, the ascetics rice porridge served to visitors, a lottery, a market of local produce, and offerings of music and martial arts in front of the treasure hall. In the early afternoon a procession of yamabushi in white and saffron enters blowing conch shells, sutras are chanted, and the fire is lit. Prayer sticks are sold for a few hundred yen if you want one thrown in. When the flames drop, the ascetics cross first and the public follows.
One thing to know: the hall that makes Mount Mitoku famous, Nageiredo, is wedged into a cliff face high above the temple and is reached only by a steep supervised climb with footwear checks, which is a separate undertaking from the festival in the lower precinct.
Admission and practicalities
Entry to the precinct is free on the day of the festival. Prayer sticks and participation in the fire-walking each carry a small charge collected on site; the amount has varied year to year, so check at the temple desk. Bring something to carry your shoes and socks in if you intend to cross.
Tips for visitors
Arrive by noon to see the procession form rather than only the fire. Late October on the mountain is cold in the shade, and the precinct is largely unpaved, so wear shoes you can take off and put back on easily. Misasa Onsen, 15 minutes away, is the obvious place to stay and to soak afterwards.
Access and map
| Date | 25 October 2026, about 9:30-15:00 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Mitokusan Sanbutsuji temple, Misasa, Tottori |
| Access | About 40 minutes by bus from JR Kurayoshi station; shuttle bus on the day |
| Admission | Precinct free; small charges for prayer sticks and fire-walking |
| Enquiries | Mitokusan Sanbutsuji, 0858-43-2666 |
Source: Mitokusan Sanbutsuji official site
Image: Photo: Kazunori Fujimoto / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 – Nageiredo, higher up the same mountain
