The traditional "Gozan Okuribi" rite was held in Kyoto City on the evening of August 16 to send off the spirits of ancestors who had returned to their families during the Obon holiday. There were approximately 110,000 local people and tourists, according to Kyoto Prefectural Police, at the various viewpoints, and they were enchanted by the bright blazes emerging from the darkness.

At just past 8:00 p.m., "Daimonji," the Chinese character "Dai," meaning large, was lit on fire on Mount Nyoigatake in Sakyo Ward. Following this, the other characters and symbols of "Myoho," "Hidari-daimonji," "Funagata," and "Toriigata" were set aflame one by one.

It was a humid night with the temperature only falling to 30 degrees Celsius even at the time the fires were lit, and many families, as well as couples wearing "Yukata," or casual summer Kimono, crowded along the Kamo River and other viewpoints. Cheering vigorously or quietly putting their hands together, they bade farewell to the passing summer while watching the blazes that clearly emerged after wind blew the smoke away.