The shape of it
About
Every August 16th, a giant Chinese character meaning 'big' (dai) is set ablaze on the slope of Mt. Myojogatake above the Gora hot-spring district of Hakone. The roughly 80-metre fire, paired with a fireworks display, marks the okuribi farewell to ancestral spirits at the close of Obon.
Highlights
- An 80-metre flaming 'dai' character lit on the mountainside above Gora
- Fireworks display set against the burning character
- Traditional Obon okuribi (farewell-fire) ceremony in a hot-spring resort
- Best views from around Gora Station and Gora Park
Plan it well
- Hakone is about 1.5 hours from Tokyo; take the Odakyu Romancecar to Hakone-Yumoto, then the mountain railway to Gora.
- Stay overnight in a Gora ryokan to combine the bonfire with onsen and avoid the late-night return.
- Arrive at a viewpoint well before dusk - the area gets crowded and trains fill up afterwards.
- The fire is brief, so confirm the lighting time locally before settling in.
Where it happens
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