Mt. Kiyotaki (清滝山) (Venue of the Kiyotaki Otaimatsu)

Flow of the course

About this spot

This traditional event is held every year during Obon on August 15 at Mt. Kiyotaki in Maibara City. At 4:30 p.m., torches set off for the summit from Daimon (in front of the temple bell), the summit is lit at 7:00 p.m., and the great torch is scheduled to depart at 8:40 p.m. From the villages at the foot of the mountain, the flames rising into the night sky are clearly visible, and the event is said to carry the meaning of an okuribi, a send-off fire for the spirits of ancestors. It is a quiet yet profound event that has long marked the close of summer in the satoyama countryside of Omi.

Festival details

Tips

Since the lighting takes place at the summit, the best approach is to watch from a spot with a good view at the foot of the mountain. Some roads in the area are narrow, so be careful about where you park. It gets dark underfoot after sunset, so a flashlight is reassuring.

Best time to visit

From the 7:00 p.m. summit lighting. The period up until the great torch departs around 8:40 p.m. offers the most spectacular viewing.

Access & map

滋賀県 米原市・清滝山