Mount Wakakusa, Mountain summit in Nara Park, Japan.
Mount Wakakusa rises 342 meters (1,120 feet) above Nara, located in the eastern section of Nara Park between Todaiji Temple and Kasuga Shrine. The slopes are covered in grass, and the summit offers views across the city and surrounding temple complexes.
In 1760, the mountain became the center of a territorial dispute between Todaiji and Kofuku-ji temples, leading to the establishment of the annual burning tradition. This practice has been maintained for centuries as a way to settle the dispute and preserve the grassland.
The mountain is deeply connected to the Yamayaki festival, a major event held on the fourth Saturday of January when the entire grass-covered slope burns in a controlled ceremony. Visitors experience this tradition firsthand and see how the burning ritual holds meaning for the temples and local community.
The climb takes about 40 minutes using a marked trail with rest areas positioned along the way. The mountain closes from mid-December to mid-March each year to allow the grass to regenerate after the burning ceremony.
The site uses a controlled burning technique called Yamayaki to prevent the grassland from becoming overgrown with shrubs and trees. This method, developed over 250 years ago from a temple dispute, is one of few traditional fire management practices still actively used in Japan today.
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