Wakakusa Yamayaki (若草山の山焼き)
Time: Late January
Prefecture: Nara
Location: Kōfukuji Temple, Tōdaiji, Kasuga Taisha Shrine

In January, one of Japan's most awe-inspiring spectacles unfolds during the Wasakusa Yamayaki. This event involves setting an entire mountainside in Nara ablaze, accompanied by fireworks bursting behind it. While the exact origins remain unclear, theories suggest it may have stemmed from disputes over temple boundaries, efforts to ward off boars, or even folklore involving ghosts.