A burning torch at night for the Yoshida Fire Festival schedule update

Yoshida Fire Festival 2026: August 26 Torch Lighting and August 27 Susuki Festival Schedule

Travel News Watch

Information checked: July 23, 2026, 08:40 JST.

Fujiyoshida’s official tourism guide has published the 2026 timetable for the Yoshida Fire Festival and the following Susuki Festival. The two days have different routes and highlights: August 26 centers on the mikoshi procession and evening torch lighting, while August 27 ends with the return to Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine.

Short answerOn Wednesday, August 26, shrine rites begin at 2:30 PM, the mikoshi procession starts at 5:00 PM, and the procession is scheduled to reach the Otabisho at 6:30 PM. The large torches are lit after the mikoshi arrives, so 6:30 PM should be treated as a planning marker rather than a guaranteed ignition minute.

Key Facts For Travelers

Affected areaKitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine, Suwa Shrine, the Kamiyoshida procession route, and Kamiyoshida Community Center.
Main fire-festival dateWednesday, August 26, 2026.
Susuki Festival dateThursday, August 27, 2026.
Torch timingLighting follows the scheduled 6:30 PM mikoshi arrival; removal begins at 10:00 PM.

August 26 Schedule

The official timetable lists shrine rites at 2:30 PM, the two mikoshi departing at 5:00 PM, and arrival at the Otabisho at 6:30 PM. More than 100 large torches, each about three meters high, are placed along roughly two kilometers of the route. The official page says lighting begins once the mikoshi has arrived, with torch removal starting at 10:00 PM.

August 27 Schedule

Rites at the Otabisho begin at 1:15 PM, the mikoshi depart at 2:00 PM, the Kanadorii ceremony is scheduled for 3:30 PM, and the Onkuraisi ceremony for 6:00 PM. The official timetable then lists shrine rites at Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine from 7:00 PM.

Traveler Actions

  • Choose the correct day: August 26 is the torch-lighting night, while August 27 is the return procession and Susuki Festival climax.
  • Arrive before 6:30 PM on August 26 if torch lighting is your priority, but expect the exact ignition time to follow procession progress.
  • Keep clear of the torches and procession route, follow staff directions, and avoid stopping where crowds need to move.
  • Recheck the official page before travel for any later traffic, weather, or crowd-control notice.

Official Sources

Update History

  • July 23, 2026: Created from the official 2026 two-day timetable and festival guide.