On the fourth Saturday of January, after fireworks, about 300 members of the Nara fire brigade light the dead grass on Wakakusayama, east of Nara Park, and a wall of fire climbs 33 hectares of hill in about half an hour, visible across the city.
Why it's unique
Controlled grass burning is common in rural Japan. Burning a hill that overlooks a city centre, as a joint rite of a shrine and two great temples, is not.
The point is the scale and the setting: the whole hillside goes up in front of the city in one go, and you can watch it from almost anywhere.
Before you go
Earlier in the day there is a contest throwing giant deer crackers. Fireworks go up at about 18:15 and the grass is lit at about 18:30.
The base is crowded; the Heijō Palace site, far to the west, is the locals' wide-angle viewpoint. Wet grass means a slow, patchy burn, so a dry week before is what you hope for. Postponed in bad weather.
