Five mountains surrounding Japan's ancient capital Kyoto served as the stage for a spectacular bonfire festival on Friday, attracting tens of thousands of people.

Gozan Okuribi is held every August 16 to send off ancestral spirits during the Bon holidays.

The fires form shapes such as a boat and the kanji character for "large". The first was lit at 8 p.m., and the others shortly after.

Police say the festival attracted a crowd of about 47,000, up more than 20,000 from last year.

About 300 people viewed the event from the rooftop of a textile center.

One woman in her 40s who came with her family said this was the first Bon festival since her father died, adding that she was glad they were able to give him a good sendoff.