The Akibasan Kongen Yabuse Matsuri — or the Akibasan Protection from Fire Festival — takes place at the Akibasan Shrine in the Itabashi district of Odawara City.
What happens?
The festival, which dates from the 16th century, is ostensibly for offering protection from fire. A better description might be “fun with fire” — with robed priests doing a variety of activities with fire, including writing Chinese characters in the air with a flaming stick and firing arrows into a bonfire.
Schedule 2024
The fire portion starts at 7 p.m.
How to get there
The temple is a 10-minute walk from Hakone Itabashi Station.
Organizers may cancel events, alter schedules, or change admission requirements without notice. Always check official sites before heading to an event.