The Hiwatari-sai ceremony at Tanukidani no Ofudo-san temple (on July 28) is best explained elsewhere, but I will answer your, um, burning question, Did you walk on the fire? Yes, I did! But it wasn’t fire, or coals, just a path of blackened earth where the fire had once been, with the flames still burning on either side. It was very smoky, but the ground had cooled enough that it was more comfortable than walking on hot beach sand.