| Mount Wakakusa | |
|---|---|
| 若草山 | |
Mt. Wakakusa viewed from Heijō Palace (Mt. Kasuga on the right end) |
|
| Elevation | 342 m (1,122 ft) |
| Location | |
| Location | Nara, Japan |
Mount Wakakusa (若草山 Wakakusa-yama), also known as Mount Mikasa (三笠山 Mikasa-yama), is a 342 m (1,122 ft) high mountain located in Nara, Nara Prefecture, Japan, to the east of Nara Park.
On the fourth Saturday of each January, the dead grass of Mt. Wakakusa is burned in an annual festival known as Yamayaki (山焼き literally "mountain roast"; common translation: "prescribed burn"). [1] The tradition supposedly originated from a boundary dispute between two temples, Todai-ji and Kōfuku-ji in 1760. As the mediations failed, the entire mountain was set ablaze. Other explanations suggest the extermination of wild boars or pests as a result. The festival today begins with a ceremonial igniting by members of both temples, followed by a fireworks display. The festival has been postponed due to poor weather in the past.