Kurama Fire Festival 2026 (Oct 22): Schedule, Eizan Railway Access and Crowd Tips
On 22 October 2026, more than 250 pine torches light up Kurama village from 18:00 until after midnight. Here's the schedule, how to get there on the Eizan line, and how to handle the crowds and the late trip back.
On the night of 22 October, the mountain village of Kurama in northern Kyoto fills with flaming pine torches and chants of "Sai-rei, sai-ryo." This guide covers the 2026 date, the schedule, how to get there on the Eizan line and how to cope with the crowds. Information was checked on 12 October 2026.
Date, place and what you'll see
The Kurama Fire Festival (Kurama no Hi Matsuri) takes place on Thursday 22 October 2026 at Yuki Shrine, running from 18:00 until after midnight.1 It is held rain or shine.2
The festival is said to date back to 940, when villagers carrying countless torches welcomed the shrine's deity to Kurama.3 Today, more than 250 pine torches, some weighing as much as 80 kg, are carried along the street up to the shrine with mikoshi (portable shrines).4
The procession begins at dusk, when small torches are lit in front of each house, and many homes display family heirlooms such as samurai armor in their windows.5
Rough timeline for the evening
- 18:00 – Bonfires are lit, then the infants' torches, the boys' torches and the young men's torches are lit in turn.2
- Around 20:00 – The torch procession heads to the area in front of the Sanmon gate of Kurama-dera.2
- Around 21:00 (in 2025) – The torches gathered in front of the Sanmon gate, the shimenawa rope was cut, and 2 mikoshi came down the stone steps to the otabisho, a temporary shrine a short distance away.6
- Around 0:00 – After the mikoshi procession and other rites, the festival ends.2
Times shift a little every year, so treat these as a guide only.
Getting there: Eizan Railway to Kurama
Take the Keihan Main Line to Demachiyanagi, then change to the Eizan Electric Railway and ride to Kurama Station.7 Yuki Shrine is about a 6-minute walk from Kurama Station.1
Do not drive. From 15:00 on the day, ordinary vehicles may not use the road between Kibuneguchi and Kurama Onsen, and every parking lot is closed all day, so there is nowhere to park even if you arrive before 15:00.8 The road closure lasted from 15:00 until about 1:00 the next morning in 2025.6
The Eizan line is a small local railway, and festival-night trains are packed in both directions. Arrive in Kurama in the afternoon if you want a decent spot, and expect long queues, crowd control and one-way routes set up by staff and police.
Crowds, closures and getting back
The crowd keeps growing. The Kyoto City Fire Department counted about 4,600 spectators in 2025 and noted that visitor numbers rise every year.6
Some areas close well before the fire arrives. Before the festival, the area in front of Kurama-dera's Sanmon gate is closed off as sacred ground and nobody may go above the gate.9 On the day, Yuki Shrine's amulet office opens only around 11:00, after the annual rite, and plans to close around 16:30. No amulets or goshuin stamps are available until it opens.9
The return trip is the hardest part. Everyone heads for the same small station at the same time, so check the last train time on the day and decide in advance when you will leave. If you want to stay until the end around midnight, consider booking a room nearby or within reach by taxi from Demachiyanagi.
For questions in Japanese, a Kurama Fire Festival telephone line (075-741-4511) runs from 1 September to the end of October.10 For final timings and any access changes, check the official Kyoto City tourism page: https://ja.kyoto.travel/event/single.php?event_id=4978
Pairing it with the Jidai Matsuri
Kyoto's Jidai Matsuri parade is held on the same day, 22 October 2026. It leaves Kyoto Imperial Palace at 12:00, passes Karasuma Oike at 12:50 and reaches Heian Shrine at 14:30. If it rains, the parade is postponed to 23 October.11
Seeing both is possible in theory: watch the early part of the parade, then head to Demachiyanagi. In practice, you would arrive in Kurama later than most of the crowd. Only try it if your schedule is flexible and you don't mind watching the fire festival from farther back. Our Jidai Matsuri guide has the parade details.
Practical tips
- Dress warmly. Kurama is in the mountains and evenings are much colder than central Kyoto. Wear layers and comfortable shoes for standing for hours.
- Bring a small flashlight or phone light for dark village lanes and the walk back to the station.
- Travel light. Don't count on lockers or seating in the village. Carry only a small bag and some water and snacks.
- Watch for sparks and embers. Wear clothes that won't melt easily, tie back long hair and keep clear when torch bearers pass.
- Follow instructions from police, staff and festival officials, and don't stop in areas they ask you to keep clear.
- No flash and no tripods. They block the narrow street and distract the torch bearers.
- Use the restroom before you arrive. Facilities are few compared with the size of the crowd.
- Check the official page on the day for any last-minute changes.
Notes
Drafted with AI assistance, fact-checked against official sources and approved by an IKOKA editor.
Sources
Facts in this article were checked against these official sources.