Japan’s blazing summer tradition. Daimonji-yaki.

Japanese traditionally light huge bonfires at the beginning of the Obon holiday to invite the spirits of ancestors. After spending the holiday with their ancestors, they light them again to send the spirits back to the spiritual world.
 
These gigantic bonfires accompany summer festivities that attract spectators and tourists, and their most common shape is the Kanji character “大” (meaning “large” and pronounced “dai”).

 

In Hakone, two hours from Tokyo, Daimonji bonfires are lit on August 16 every year. The sight of the large star-shaped letter emerging from the darkness of a mountainside is overwhelming. Fireworks are held at the same time in Hakone to entertain spectators. Both the bonfires and fireworks can be seen from Hakone Hotel Kowaki-en and Hakone Kowaki-en Ten-yu.


 
In Kyoto, five bonfire displays are ignited on five mountains in the shapes of two "dai", other kanji, and two other forms. The event is called Gozan no Okuribi (bonfires on five mountains for sending the spirits).
 

 

■ Hakone Hotel Kowaki-en
For details, visit: http://www.hakoneho-kowakien.com/en/
 
■ Hakone Kowaku-en Ten-yu
For details, visit: http://www.hakone-tenyu.com//
 
■ Hotel Gracery Kyoto Sanjo
For details, visit: http://kyoto.gracery.com//

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  • Japan’s blazing summer tradition. Daimonji-yaki.