Hiwatari Matsuri: Japan's firewalking festival

About 1,500 Japanese worshipers walk barefoot with Buddhist monks over coals at the annual festival praying for safety, an end to the COVID-19 pandemic and for peace in the world, Takao-san Yakuo-in Buddhist temple said.

Buddhist monks walk barefoot over smoldering coals at the fire-walking festival, called Hiwatari Matsuri in Japanese, at Mt. Takao in Tokyo, Japan, March 13, 2022.

A yamabushi monk starts a fire during the annual fire-walking festival of Takao-san Yakuo-in temple in Hachioji, Tokyo suburbs, Japan, March 13, 2022.

A Buddhist monk splashes water on a bonfire at the fire-walking festival, called Hiwatari Matsuri in Japanese, at Mt.Takao in Tokyo, Japan, March 13, 2022.

A boy walks next to flame as he walks barefoot over coal at the fire-walking festival, called Hiwatari Matsuri in Japanese, at Mt. Takao in Tokyo, Japan, March 13, 2022.

A yamabushi monk throws water over a burning sacred fire during the annual fire-walking festival of Takao-san Yakuo-in temple in Hachioji, Tokyo suburbs, Japan, March 13, 2022.

A Buddhist monk walks barefoot over smouldering coals at the fire-walking festival, called Hiwatari Matsuri in Japanese, at Mt. Takao in Tokyo, Japan, March 13, 2022.

A woman walks next to flame as she walks barefoot over coal at the fire-walking festival, called Hiwatari Matsuri in Japanese, at Mt. Takao in Tokyo, Japan, March 13, 2022.

A yamabushi monks perform during the annual fire-walking festival of Takao-san Yakuo-in temple in Hachioji, Tokyo suburbs, Japan, March 13, 2022.

A man walks next to flame as he walks barefoot over coal at the fire-walking festival, called Hiwatari Matsuri in Japanese, at Mt. Takao in Tokyo, Japan, March 13, 2022.

A Buddhist monk chanting and praying is seen behind the flames of a bonfire at the fire-walking festival, called Hiwatari Matsuri in Japanese, at Mt. Takao in Tokyo, Japan, March 13, 2022.

Yamabushi monks walk barefoot over hot coal and through flames during the annual fire-walking festival of Takao-san Yakuo-in temple in Hachioji, Tokyo suburbs, Japan, March 13, 2022.

A man walks next to flame as he walks barefoot over coal at the fire-walking festival, called Hiwatari Matsuri in Japanese, at Mt. Takao in Tokyo, Japan, March 13, 2022.

Yamabushi monks walk barefoot over hot coal and through flames during the annual fire-walking festival of Takao-san Yakuo-in temple in Hachioji, Tokyo suburbs, Japan, March 13, 2022.

A yamabushi monk walks barefoot over hot coal and through flames during the annual fire-walking festival of Takao-san Yakuo-in temple in Hachioji, Tokyo suburbs, Japan, March 13, 2022.

A woman walks next to flame as he walks barefoot over coal at the fire-walking festival, called Hiwatari Matsuri in Japanese, at Mt. Takao in Tokyo, Japan, March 13, 2022.

A man walks next to flame as he walks barefoot over coal at the fire-walking festival, called Hiwatari Matsuri in Japanese, at Mt. Takao in Tokyo, Japan, March 13, 2022.

A Buddhist monk splashes water on a bonfire at the fire-walking festival, called Hiwatari Matsuri in Japanese, at Mt. Takao in Tokyo, Japan, March 13, 2022.

A boy and a man walk next to flames as they walk barefoot over coal at the fire-walking festival, called Hiwatari Matsuri in Japanese, at Mt. Takao in Tokyo, Japan, March 13, 2022.

A man carrying a baby walks next to flame as he walks barefoot over coal at the fire-walking festival, called Hiwatari Matsuri in Japanese, at Mt. Takao in Tokyo, Japan, March 13, 2022.

A yamabushi monk walks barefoot over hot coal and through flames during the annual fire-walking festival of Takao-san Yakuo-in temple in Hachioji, Tokyo suburbs, Japan, March 13, 2022.