Walking barefoot over coals. The main event of the “Walking over fire” festival. A simple premise, yet courageous event held every winter solstice in Takao, west of Tokyo. Endure hard trainings for meditation and purification purposes, like standing under a waterfall, are common practice for the “yamabushi” monks. At this festival, visitors can try as well and walk over the coals, and the gods will grant the purification state and luck they ask for, once they endure the trial by fire walking barefooted.
When and how to get there
Celebrated on March 11th in 2018 (check for next year when the date arrives). At foot of Takao mountain. From Tokyo, at Shinjuku station, take the Takao Keio Line. Nearest station is Takaosanguchi.
Related articles and video
Mount Takao
Youtube: Hiwatari-sai festival
Travel photographer and journalist. Degree in Tourism management and master's degree in Travel Journalism. Lived and studied in Tokyo for more than 2 years, where I started my blog Hype in Tokyo. I kept the name from that period in Tokyo for my travel projects as a memento of where it all started. 
