Bonfire symbols were lit up in Kyoto's mountains on August 16 to mark the end of Obon holiday season in Japan.

The summer tradition called Gozan Okuribi is meant to send off the spirits of ancestors who came to visit during Japan’s Obon season and pray for good health.

To kick off the event, a 160-meter “daimonji” depicting a kanji character that means “big” was lit around 8PM on one of the mountains.

Other characters and symbols, including those representing Buddha’s teachings and a ship, burned for around 30 minutes across 5 mountains in the Higashiyama area.