Bathe in sacred smoke, ward off evil, and set your wishes aflame at Osaka’s Suita Fire Festival.
What happens?
The Suita Fire Festival, held at Jōkō Enmanji Temple in Suita City, is renowned for its intense fire rituals within the temple’s compact grounds. The highlight is the Shido Daigoma Ceremony, where wishes written on wooden sticks known as gomagi are offered to Fudo Myo-o, the deity of wisdom and fire. As the flames rise, sacred smoke — believed to ward off evil — engulfs the crowd. Facing an unlucky year? A special prayer might be just what you need.
Stick around for the lively grand raffle, where prizes include Godiva chocolates and a kilo of crab, beef, ham, fried chicken, scallops, or spare ribs.
Schedule
Festivities will begin at 10:45 a.m. and conclude by 2 p.m.
Tickets
Admission to the festival is free. For those wishing to participate in specific rituals:
- Gomagi (prayer sticks): ¥500 each
- Special prayers: Starting from ¥5,000
No prior application is necessary; fees can be paid on-site.
How to get there
From Osaka Station, take the JR Kyoto Line to Suita Station (about 10 minutes). From there, it’s a 5-minute walk to Jōkō Enmanji Temple.
Alternatively, take the Hankyu Kyoto Line from Umeda Station (next to Osaka Station) to Hankyu Suita Station. The temple is a 5-minute walk from the station.
Organizers may cancel events, alter schedules, or change admission requirements without notice. Always check official sites before heading to an event.