Kurama-dera Temple — Mountain Fire Festival Temple

**Kurama-Kibune hike:** The mountain trail from Kurama-dera over the summit to Kibune Shrine (90 minutes one-way, moderate difficulty) is one of Kyoto's best forest hikes. The path passes through cedar forest, crosses mountain streams, and reaches Okunoin Shrine at the summit. Spring (May) sees fresh green leaves, autumn (November) brings maple colors. Start at Kurama (uphill first) and finish at Kibune for easier descent, then enjoy kawadoko dining as reward. **Fire Festival:** October 22's Kurama Fire Festival sees villagers carry 3-meter-long pine torches (炬火, kagaribi) through the village while chanting 'Sairei! Sairyo!' (festival chants). The festival starts at dusk (18:00) and climaxes at midnight when hundreds of torches converge at the shrine. Extremely crowded (100,000+ spectators) — arrive by 16:00 or view from afar. No accommodation available in Kurama on this date; last train leaves early (21:00); many spectators stay all night. **Reiki origin:** Kurama-dera claims to be birthplace of Reiki healing practice — founder Mikao Usui supposedly received enlightenment here in 1922. A Reiki memorial stone marks the spot on the mountain trail. The temple's cosmology (worship of cosmic energy) influenced Usui's concept of universal life force.