Mountain bonfire in Kyoto

Mountain bonfire in Kyoto

A giant bonfire in the shape of the Chinese character for "large" is lit on the side of a mountain during the Gozan Okuribi festival in Kyoto on Aug. 16, 2024.

Mountain bonfire in Kyoto

Mountain bonfire in Kyoto

A giant bonfire in the shape of the Chinese character for "large" is lit on the side of a mountain during the Gozan Okuribi festival in Kyoto on Aug. 16, 2024.

Kyoto Gozan Okuribi Festival

Kyoto Gozan Okuribi Festival

Kyoto Gozan Okuribi Festival=Date:August 16, 2023,Place:Kyoto

Kyoto Gozan Okuribi Festival

Kyoto Gozan Okuribi Festival

Kyoto Gozan Okuribi Festival=Date:August 16, 2023,Place:Kyoto

Kyoto Gozan Okuribi Festival

Kyoto Gozan Okuribi Festival

Kyoto Gozan Okuribi Festival=Date:August 16, 2023,Place:Kyoto

Kyoto Gozan Okuribi Festival

Kyoto Gozan Okuribi Festival

Kyoto Gozan Okuribi Festival=Date:August 16, 2023,Place:Kyoto

Kyoto Gozan Okuribi Festival

Kyoto Gozan Okuribi Festival

Kyoto Gozan Okuribi Festival=Date:August 16, 2023,Place:Kyoto

Kyoto Gozan Okuribi Festival

Kyoto Gozan Okuribi Festival

Kyoto Gozan Okuribi Festival=Date:August 16, 2023,Place:Kyoto

Kyoto Gozan Okuribi Festival

Kyoto Gozan Okuribi Festival

Kyoto Gozan Okuribi Festival=Date:August 16, 2023,Place:Kyoto

Kyoto Gozan Okuribi Festival

Kyoto Gozan Okuribi Festival

Kyoto Gozan Okuribi Festival=Date:August 16, 2023,Place:Kyoto

Kyoto Gozan Okuribi Festival

Kyoto Gozan Okuribi Festival

Kyoto Gozan Okuribi Festival=Date:August 16, 2023,Place:Kyoto

Kyoto Gozan Okuribi Festival

Kyoto Gozan Okuribi Festival

Kyoto Gozan Okuribi Festival=Date:August 16, 2023,Place:Kyoto

Kyoto Gozan Okuribi Festival

Kyoto Gozan Okuribi Festival

Kyoto Gozan Okuribi Festival=Date:August 16, 2023,Place:Kyoto

Mountain bonfire in Kyoto

Mountain bonfire in Kyoto

A giant bonfire forming the Chinese character for "large" is lit on a mountain during the Gozan Okuribi festival in Kyoto on Aug. 16, 2023.

Mountain bonfire in Kyoto

Mountain bonfire in Kyoto

A giant bonfire forming the Chinese character for "large" is lit on a mountain during the Gozan Okuribi festival in Kyoto on Aug. 16, 2023.

"Gozan Okuribi" event in Kyoto

"Gozan Okuribi" event in Kyoto

People observe the Chinese character "dai," which means large, formed by a bonfire on the slope of the Nyoigatake in Kyoto on Aug. 16, 2015, during the "Gozan Okuribi" event. Five giant Chinese characters were formed by bonfires on mountains surrounding Kyoto as the souls of ancestors are said to return to the spirit world following the summer "Bon" season. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

"Gozan Okuribi" event in Kyoto

"Gozan Okuribi" event in Kyoto

People observe the Chinese character "dai," which means large, formed by a bonfire on the slope of the Nyoigatake in Kyoto on Aug. 16, 2015, during the "Gozan Okuribi" event. Five giant Chinese characters were formed by bonfires on mountains surrounding Kyoto as the souls of ancestors are said to return to the spirit world following the summer "Bon" season. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Daimonji Festival in Kyoto

Daimonji Festival in Kyoto

Photo taken on the night of Aug. 16, 2018, shows a bonfire in the shape of a giant Chinese character meaning "large" on a mountain side during the Daimonji Festival, one of the most famous events in Kyoto. In the festival, formally known as Gozan no Okuribi, five giant bonfires are lit on mountains surrounding the city in the culmination of the Obon period in summer. In Japan, it is believed that each year during Obon, ancestors' spirits return to this world in order to visit their relatives. The purpose of the bonfires is to guide these souls back to heaven. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Daimonji Festival in Kyoto

Daimonji Festival in Kyoto

Photo taken on the night of Aug. 16, 2019, shows a bonfire in the shape of a giant Chinese character meaning "large" on a mountain side during the Daimonji Festival, one of the most famous events in Kyoto. In the festival, formally known as Gozan no Okuribi, five giant bonfires are lit on mountains surrounding the city in the culmination of the Obon period in summer. In Japan, it is believed that each year during Obon, ancestors' spirits return to this world in order to visit their relatives. The purpose of the bonfires is to guide these souls back to heaven. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo