Saito Goma Fire Walking Festival

Every September in the City of Kazo there is a fire walking ceremony, 柴燈護摩火渡り式, steeped in ritual and history, held at Sougan-ji Temple in Kazo City. Currently, the festival has not yet been cancelled for 2020 (September 1st 2020), but there is every chance it will be cancelled in the coming weeks. Please do check with the official website for the most up to date information (click here). 

Fire walking

First the priests walk through the flames of the sacred fire. After the priests have finished they completely extinguish the fire creating smoldering coals. They are still warm, but not hot enough to burn. People walk bare foot on the coals as a type of a purification ritual and a prayer for protection.

It is a public and free event.

This year it will be held on September 28th from 1 pm.

Souganji Temple Information

Address: Sougan-ji Temple, 2 Chome-9-18 Fudooka, Kazo, Saitama Prefecture.

Phone: 0480-61-0031

Access

The temple is a 24 minute walk from the North exit of Kazo Station , on the Tobu Isesaki line. You can also take a bus from the North exit of the station toward Kazo garage.

More images from the official website.

For more unusual and unique events in Saitama, please see the main events calendar.

The information was up to date and accurate to the best of knowledge at the time of publishing. Please check the official website for any last minute changes due to weather or other circumstances.