1 / 4   Yamabushi Ascetic Monks walk barefoot over the hot coals at Yakuo-in temple in Takaosanguchi in Tokyo, Japan, on March 10, 2019. /VCG

2 / 4   The monks believe they can purify themselves by burning away all defilements, and pray for protection against sickness and calamity and for safety within the family. /VCG

3 / 4   Every year on the second Sunday of March, Yamabushi Ascetic Monks, worshippers and participants take part in a large open-air fire ritual at the foot of Mount Takao. /VCG

4 / 4   A Yamabushi Ascetic Monk prepares the ground for the Hiwatari fire walking festival. /VCG