What is Okera Mairi at Yasaka Shrine?

When does it happen?

1. 28 Dec, 4:00The sacred fire is made with a traditional fire drill (not open to the public).
2. 31 Dec, 19:00Year-end ceremony in the Main Hall. Afterwards the priests light the fire in the lanterns around the grounds.
3. 31 Dec, 19:30Okera Mairi begins and runs through the night.
4. 1 Jan, 5:00Okera Mairi ends, at about this time.
5. 3 JanFirst Noh of the year on the Noh stage at 9:00; karuta opening ceremony at 13:00.

Source: shrine's New Year events (Japanese). Checked 20 October 2026. Times are approximate.

What do you do there?

1. 1See the okera fire. Okera is a plant whose dried root burns with a strong smell and was believed to drive away evil. It burns with okera-gi, sticks carrying people's wishes for a healthy year.
2. 2Take some fire home on a rope. The shrine offers a ready rope (kakehinawa) for ¥1,000, only for Okera Mairi.
3. 3Keep the rope. Once the fire is out, people hang the rope in the kitchen as a charm against fire.

How crowded is it?

Okera Mairi on New Year's Eve (from about 19:30 until about 5:00 on 1 January) and hatsumode on 1–3 January don't follow the everyday pattern, so we show no estimate.

Late-night trains and buses on 31 December, road closures around Gion, and whether a lit rope may be carried on trains and buses are announced each year before New Year by the operators and Kyoto City; we add them here once they are out.

Questions

What time is Okera Mairi at Yasaka Shrine?

On 31 December, from about 19:30 until about 5:00 on 1 January. The year-end ceremony in the Main Hall starts at 19:00; after it, the priests light the sacred fire in the lanterns around the grounds.

What is the okera fire?

Okera (白朮) is a plant whose dried root gives off a strong smell when burned, and was believed to drive away evil. It is burned together with okera-gi, wooden sticks on which people have written wishes for good health in the new year.

Can I take the fire home?

Visitors carry the fire home on a rope (hinawa). In the past it lit the fire for the New Year soup and the household altar; today the rope, once put out, is kept in the kitchen as a charm against fire. The shrine offers a ready rope, kakehinawa, for ¥1,000, only for Okera Mairi.

Is Yasaka Shrine crowded on New Year's Eve?

We don't give a number for New Year's Eve or the first three days of January. Okera Mairi on New Year's Eve (from about 19:30 until about 5:00 on 1 January) and hatsumode on 1–3 January don't follow the everyday pattern, so we show no estimate.