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Nara's Demon Festival: Oni Fest on Mt. Yoshino - February 2, 2025
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Nara's Mount Yoshino boasts a unique tradition for Setsubun (February 2) called the Oni Fest on Mount Yoshino, which involves a demon taming ceremony at Kinpusenji Temple and events where costumed demons visit local shops and inns.
Written by
Travel writer and assistant editor at MATCHA with extensive travel around the Osaka, Kyoto, and Wakayama areas. A Kansai insider who knows their Akashiyaki from their Takoyaki, Iain enjoys getting authentic stories from traditional craftspeople and interesting creators. Particularly fond of temples and shrines, Iain delves deep into the crossroads of tradition and modernity in his eight-plus years living and writing about Japan.
Meet Demons on Mount Yoshino
On February 2, Nara's Mount Yoshino hosts its annual Oni Fest, or Demon Festival. This event allows visitors to experience the vibrant traditions of Setsubun, an annual festival aimed at driving away evil spirits and bad fortune from homes.
What makes the temples at Mt. Yoshino special is their unique twist on this tradition: instead of driving the demons away, they invite them in! Read on to learn more about this unique celebration.
Oni Fest - Demon Festival on Mt. Yoshino
1. Nara's Demon Festival Oni Fest 2025: History and Features
2. Oni Fest 2025: Dates and Venues
3. Highlights of Oni Fest on Mt. Yoshino 2025
7. How to Get to Mt. Yoshino
8. Where to Stay on Mt. Yoshino
Nara's Demon Festival Oni Fest 2025: History and Features
Kinpusenji Zaodo Hall. Photo by Pixta
At the heart of the Oni Fest is Kinpusenji, the leading temple on Mount Yoshino belonging to the Shugendo faith.
Shugendo is a form of folk religion that originated from mountain worship, blending elements of Shinto and Buddhism. The area where Kinpusenji stands has been regarded as a sacred site for Shugendo since ancient times. The temple has been designated a World Heritage site.
The Setsubun Festival of Kinpusenji, known as the Oni Fire Festival, has been celebrated for over a thousand years, following the story of the founder of Shugendo, En no Gyoja, who bound demons with his spiritual powers and taught them the Buddhist teachings, turning them into disciples.
The Demon Exorcism Ceremony held at the Zaodo Hall is significantly different from those at other temples and shrines; it includes chanting "Fuku wa uchi, Oni mo uchi" (Good fortune in, demons in). This invites demons that have been driven away from across the country to enter.
The raging demons are then subdued using sutras and spiritual power, along with beans scattered by the devotees, convincing them to repent and transform into "good demons."
After the ceremonial rituals inside the hall, a Shinto Fire Ceremony is conducted on the temple grounds, where the reformed demons joyfully perform the Demon Dance around the great fire.
Oni Fest on Mount Yoshino 2025: Dates and Venues
The main event of the Demon Festival on Mount Yoshino 2025 will be held on February 2 at the Kinpusenji Zaodo Hall as follows:
9:30 - Chanting of the Daily Heart Sutra (*1)
11:00 - Star Ritual (*2), Demon Dance, and Demon Suppression Ceremony
12:00 - Shinto Fire Ceremony
13:00 - Bean Throwing (with prizes)
*1 The Daily Heart Sutra involves reciting one volume of the Heart Sutra for each of the 365 days in a year. This ritual is conducted to pray for the removal of misfortunes and invite good fortune throughout the year.
*2 The Star Ritual is a ceremony that utilizes esoteric Buddhist practices to honor the star associated with the current year. This ritual is conducted to pray for good health and protection from misfortune.
There are various events held on the day before the main event in Yoshino, the town that leads up to the main gates of Kinpusenji.
On February 1st, an intense taiko drum performance reverberates throughout the temple grounds, accompanied by ritual chanting from the monks as part of their spiritual training to tame the demons.
Also, it's common to see costumed demons visiting local shops, homes, and ryokan inns in Yoshino during the week before the event.
For details on the event, please visit the official website of Oni Fest on Mount Yoshino: https://yoshino-kankou.jp/onifes/ (Japanese)
Highlights of the Event
1. The Demon Taming Ceremony
At the Oni Fire Festival, the monks at Kinpusenji Temple conduct a unique Demon Taming Ceremony. In contrast to other temples, they welcome demons with the chant "Bring fortune within, demons come in," symbolically guiding them toward enlightenment.
Using the power of sacred texts, rituals, and bean-throwing by attendees, the once-rampaging demons are transformed into benevolent spirits. This transformation culminates in a celebratory dance around a blazing bonfire.
The origins of the Oni Fest date back over 1,300 years to when the mystic En no Gyoja established the Kinpusenji temple on Mount Yoshino. According to legend, he was visited by two unruly demons, Zenki and Goki, whom he managed to tame using his Buddhist techniques and rituals.
The methods employed by En no Gyoja are fundamental to Shugendo, a syncretic faith focused on rigorous self-discipline and mountain asceticism.
2. Sample Local Specialties at Shops in Yoshino
Visitors to Mt. Yoshino during the festival can indulge in a variety of local delicacies.
Savor sushi wrapped in fragrant persimmon leaves, a regional specialty known for its delightful aroma.
For a heartier option, try the tender duck meat burgers. Complete your culinary experience with the sweet and chewy treat of kuzu mochi, a transparent dessert made from arrowroot flour.
3. Stay Overnight to See Demons Visit Your Ryokan
Staying at a ryokan inn on Mt. Yoshino at the beginning of February allows visitors to fully immerse themselves in the Setsubun rituals, with costumed demons making surprise visits to accommodations for interactive experiences.
Guests can opt for demon-themed packages, adding a personal touch to their stay. With two meals included, this is an ideal way for those looking to experience all that Mt. Yoshino has to offer at a more leisurely pace.
Visit the official website of the event for a list of ryokan inns participating in the Oni Fest 2025 campaign: https://yoshino-kankou.jp/onifes/stay.html (Japanese)
How to Get to Mount Yoshino
To reach Mt. Yoshino from Kyoto Station, take the Kintetsu Limited Express to Kashiharajingu-mae Station, then transfer to the Yoshino Line for Yoshino Station. This journey takes about 2 hours in total.
From Yoshino Station, a shuttle bus departs hourly to take visitors up the mountain, or you can choose to enjoy a scenic 15-minute walk.
During the event period from mid-January to mid-February, additional buses operate on weekends in the evening. These buses depart from the station at 5 PM, 6 PM, and 7 PM, with return trips from the mountain at 7:30 PM, 8:30 PM, and 9 PM.
Where to Stay on Mt. Yoshino
Below we introduce three accommodations options near Mount Yoshino where you can stay if you wish to attend the Oni Fest.
Please note that these facilities are not part of the Oni Fest campaign, in which costumed demons visit the lodgings as part of the festival. For a list of Oni Fest accommodations in Yoshino, please visit this website: https://yoshino-kankou.jp/onifes/stay.html (Japanese)
1. Hotel Route Inn - Sakurai Ekimae
Picture courtesy of Booking.com
A cost-effective accommodation option, the Hotel Route Inn provides visitors with convenient rooms located near a major station for easy access to Mt. Yoshino.
Situated within walking distance of Kintetsu Sakurai Station, the hotel offers the high standards of hospitality that visitors expect in Japan, including meticulously clean rooms and a complimentary breakfast.
From this hotel, the closest station to Mt. Yoshino is just a 35-minute ride away, making it highly convenient for attending the Oni Fest.
2. Grand Mercure Nara Kashihara
Picture courtesy of Booking.com
Located in Kashihara, just 23 km from Nara Station, Grand Mercure Nara Kashihara offers a perfect blend of comfort and convenience for visitors to the Oni Fest.
This 5-star hotel features air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi, private bathrooms, and access to a luxurious spa and wellness center.
Just a short walk from Kashihara Jingumae Station, guests can reach Mt. Yoshino in a quick 15 minutes from this accommodation.
3. Yoshino Guest House Kura Kura
Picture courtesy of Booking.com
Kura Kura offers a charming guesthouse experience, complete with all essential amenities, nestled in the serene forests near Mt. Yoshino.
Ideal for nature enthusiasts, this cozy retreat provides an outdoorsy stay that beautifully complements the spirit of the Oni Fire Festival.
As the closest accommodation to Mt. Yoshino among the three properties mentioned, Kura Kura serves as the perfect base for festival-goers looking to immerse themselves in the area's natural beauty.
Witness Unique Traditions on Mount Yoshino
Mount Yoshino is famous as a prime spot for cherry blossom viewing, but the area is full of charm at any time of the year.
At the beginning of February, why not pay a visit to Mt. Yoshino to experience the colorful celebration that is Oni Fest? Join in the festivities of driving away the misfortunes of the past year while welcoming good fortune and excitement into the new year!
Written by
Travel writer and assistant editor at MATCHA with extensive travel around the Osaka, Kyoto, and Wakayama areas. A Kansai insider who knows their Akashiyaki from their Takoyaki, Iain enjoys getting authentic stories from traditional craftspeople and interesting creators. Particularly fond of temples and shrines, Iain delves deep into the crossroads of tradition and modernity in his eight-plus years living and writing about Japan.
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