Video Of The Week - Japan's Fire-Walking Festival

By - 99 words

Language

Reading Level

Listen to Article

On Sunday, March 8th, thousands of people made their way to Tokyo's Mt. Takao to observe a unique tradition - watching practitioners of the Shugendo religion walk across a path of smoldering embers.

Known as the Hiwatari-Matsuri festival, the annual ritual takes place at the Takao-san Yakuo-in Yuki-ji Temple every second Sunday of March. It is performed by Shugendo's followers also called "Yamabushi" to obtain protection from misfortune and for good health and peace in the world. Visitors wishing to participate can do so at the end, when the embers have cooled to more tolerable temperatures.

Resources: telegraph.co,uk, nipponnews.com

Cite Article
Geography
Learn Keywords in this Article
436 Comments
  • sjroberts1
    sjroberts1almost 7 years
    scary
    • Lelabout 7 years
      Cool
      • swirlycool
        swirlycoolalmost 8 years
        I have 5 Japanese friends that celebrate this.
        • kawaii_gymnast
          kawaii_gymnastalmost 8 years
          I speak japanese, go to Japan every year in summer break, and went to that festival before. It's not that bad. 😃
          • knokoutpear51
            knokoutpear51about 8 years
            They do it beacuse their celaberiting something I think???? 😐
            • eriel529
              eriel529about 8 years
              It is called the Japan fire walker festival.
              • dabout 8 years
                cool
                • df tvtrutytctyabout 8 years
                  awesome
                  • hamsty
                    hamstyabout 8 years
                    super cooi people
                    • kenyab7
                      kenyab7about 8 years
                      To obtain protection from misfortune and for the good health and peace in the world. Visitors are not allowed to join till the end because if visitors want to try to fire-walk it will be to hot so that is why visitors have to wait till the end so it will be warm.