Dourokuji-yaki is a traditional fire festival held every January 14 in the evening in Oohami district, Kamiyoshida, Chichibu City. Participants burn New Year decorations—including kadomatsu (pine gate ornaments), pine branches, shimenawa (sacred straw ropes), and lucky Fukudaruma dolls—to send off the new year season. This tradition, which takes place in a mountain hamlet of around 30 households, is now maintained by adults as fewer young people remain in the community.
At 7 PM, the wooden pyre ignites, and as bamboo crackles and pops, sparks dance spectacularly into the night. Taking home the charred pine branches is believed to bring protection from household misfortune and ward off evil. This mystical festival is truly worth experiencing.