Mount Wakakusa
Mount Wakakusa, also known as Mount Mikasa, is a hill located in Nara, Nara Prefecture, Japan, to the east of Nara Park. The mountain's name literally translates to "young grass".
On the fourth Saturday of each January, the dead grass of Mount Wakakusa is burned in an annual festival known as Yamayaki. The tradition supposedly originated from a boundary dispute between two temples, Tōdai-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.Gallery
