Attractions
Wakakusa Yamayaki, Japan
On the fourth Saturday of each January, the dead grass of Mount Wakakusa is burned in an annual festival known as Yamayaki literally "mountain burning
What is Wakakusa Yamayaki?
Wakakusa Yamayaki is an annual festival during which the grass on the slopes of Nara's Wakakusayama mountain is set on fire. The mountain is located at the eastern end of Nara Park and can be seen across the city when lit up.
Why do they celebrate the burning of Mount Yamayaki?
The flame covers the entire mountain and then rises up to the night sky. There are many hypothetical theories about how Yamayaki started. Some say that the prairie mounds were set on fire to commemorate their ancestors, while others say that burning began as a way to encourage new growth for plant life.