Nachi Fire Festival

Dawn in the deep valleys of the Keii mountains comes a little later than on the coast, with deep shadows playing host to an incredible array of wild animals that call this area home. The day only really begins when you set foot at the ceremonial gate that marks the entrance to the sacred forest and the steep stone path that leads up to the grand shrine and the waterfall. The climb is not strenuous, but you should be mindful of your footing as you walk over slick stones that have been worn smooth by pilgrims over the millennia. Yes, when you walk through this forest, you are walking in the footsteps of pilgrims from more than 1,300 years of human history. Some of the first emperors of