Nachi Fire Festival

The annual festival of Kumano Nachi Taisha is one of the famous fire festivals of Japan, held annually since the relocation of the original shrine in ancient times. On July 7th, twelve 6 meter tall, brightly decorated portable shrines, representing the twelve deities of Kumano, are carried from the main shrine ground to the base of the falls. Twelve giant torches welcome and purify them on the stone staircase with a rush of fire and energy.