(Photo courtesy of Iwakuni Sightseeing Association)
Throughout the summer, Japan’s night skies light up with the brilliance of “hanabi,” or fireworks. With more than 80 fireworks festivals nationwide, you’re sure to have an opportunity to catch one during your stay.
Japan’s fireworks are known worldwide for their artistic qualities – perfect shape, exquisite colors and enormous size, as well as the poetic sense of ephemerality they produce. In many cases, a single firework changes colors two to three times after it is launched.
Most events often offer other forms of fun, including food and game booths.
While some fireworks events highlight tourist attractions, others go along with traditional local matsuri festivals.
This summer, why not get off base and take in some of the local hanabi?
Here are some of my favorite fireworks festivals.
AOMORI FIREWORKS FESTIVAL (near Misawa)
(Photo courtesy of Aomori Fireworks Executive Committee)
Aomori Fireworks is an impressive fireworks display where you can enjoy both fireworks and traditional “nebuta” at the same time.
Nebuta is a lantern float that is crafted for the festival of the same name. Held Aug. 2-7 every year, the festival is one of the nation’s biggest every summer. The floats are made of paper mache, beautifully painted and lit up from inside. During the festival, more than 20 nebuta depicting human figures parade through the streets of Aomori town.
The six-day event is wrapped up with six barges of nebuta sailing slowly on the dark sea surface while 10,000 fireworks explode in the sky. Reflections of fireworks and the reddish-yellow glow of lantern floats on the dark sea water is quite the sight.
Fireworks-viewing stands for charge (Seat S: 5,500 yen and A: 4,500 yen) are available in Blue Ocean Park and New Central Wharf.
Hours: Aug. 7, 7:15–9 p.m.
Number of Fireworks: 10,000
Location: Aomori Port (Aomori City, Aomori Pref.)
Email: jigyou@toonippo.co.jp
Tel: 017-718-1135
HIRADO PORT FIREWORKS FESTIVAL (near Sasebo)
(Photo courtesy of Hirado Tourism Bureau)
The fireworks at Hirado Port is a unique display where you can enjoy the fireworks against a backdrop of the majestic Hirado Castle.
The five-story white castle on the hill behind the port and harbor has been the symbol of Hirado throughout the ages.
In fact, Hirado is filled with a sort of exotic atmosphere. Known as Firando in 1550, the port town was Japan’s main international trading port for 90 years until the nation instituted its closed-door policy in 1641.
If you are near Sasebo and are able to attend, be sure to stick around for the finale of non-stop giant fireworks creating a cascade of colors.
Hours: Aug. 10, 5–9 p.m.
Number of Fireworks: 2,000
Location: Koryu Hiroba Park in Hirado Port
Tel: 0950-22-4111
NISHIKI RIVER WATER FESTIVAL FIREWORKS (Iwakuni)
(Photo courtesy of Iwakuni Sightseeing Association)
If you are in Iwakuni during summer, don’t miss the fireworks display held during the Nishiki River Water Festival.
The Kintai Bridge, located near MCAS Iwakuni, is a symbol of Iwakuni and one of Japan’s most famous bridges. The five-arch wooden bridge spans 233 feet across Nishiki River. Due to the height of its arches, however, it has a total surface length of 690 feet. It is 16.4 feet wide and its piers are nearly 22 feet tall.
Although only 75 fireworks are launched for 2 minutes at each night, it is quite an impressive sight to see the fireworks light up the night sky over the bridge.
Hours: Aug. 1,3 12–17, 20 and 31, 8:05–8:07 p.m.
Number of Fireworks: 75 (each night)
Location: around Kintai Bridge (1 Iwakuni, Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Pref.)
URL (Japanese)
Tel: 0827-41-2037 (Nikishi River Water Festival Executive Committee)
ATSUGI AYU (SWEETFISH) FESTIVAL FIREWORKS DISPLAY (near Zama and Atsugi)
(Photo courtesy of Atsugi City)
Known as one of the largest fireworks events in Kanagawa Prefecture, Atsugi Ayu Festival fireworks dazzle with brilliance. This well-known display features 10,000 sequenced fireworks that form shapes like a chrysanthemum and peony, with a dramatic finale of a 656-foot-high “Niagara Falls” fireworks cascade.
The fireworks are part of Atsugi Ayu Festival, the city’s largest annual event (Aug. 3-4). The two-day festival includes a parade, dance contest and more, and draws half a million people every year.
Fireworks are launched from the middle of the river, giving viewers along the bank a great view. The best viewpoints are along the river, but can also be enjoyed from Hon Atsugi.
On the night of the event, streets from Hon Atsugi Station to the Sagami River are filled with countless food and game booths.
Hours: Aug. 3, 7-8:30 p.m.
Number of fireworks: 10,000
Location: Sagami River Bank (15-minute walk from Hon-Atsugi Station, Odakyu Line)
Tel: 046-295-5496
SUMIDA RIVER FIREWORKS DISPLAY (Tokyo)
(Photo courtesy of Taito-ku)
The Sumida River Fireworks Festival held near Tokyo’s Asakusa Station remains one of Japan’s oldest and most popular fireworks events, drawing about 950,000 people each year.
The festival dates back to 1733 when Edo Shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune ordered a fireworks display at a festival on the Sumida River to ward off an evil spirit thought to be behind disease and poor harvests.
While over 20,000 fireworks light up Tokyo’s cityscape, you’ll often hear people shout “Tamaya!” or “Kagiya!” This tradition was initiated when two famous pyrotechnicians – Tamaya and Kagiya competed against each other during the festival in 1810. Today, Hosoya and Marutamaya pyrotechnics companies launch their fireworks from two different barges anchored along the river, just like Tamaya and Kagiya did 200 years ago.
Besides viewing the display along the Sumida River, you can also enjoy it aboard a “yakatabune” (houseboat) or against the backdrop of the 2,080-foot Tokyo Skytree.
Hours: July 27, 7–8:30 p.m.
Number of fireworks: 20,000 fireworks.
Location: along Sumida River (Taito and Sumida Ward, Tokyo)
Tel: 03-5246-1111
Fireworks Listings
JULY
2024 Kurihama Perry Festival Fireworks (Kanagawa): July 13, 7:30-8 p.m. 5,000 fireworks at Kurihama Beach. Commemorate Commodore Perry’s visit to Japan that opened the nation to the world. Festival starts at 10 a.m., bazaar, food and game booths, live performances. A 15-minute walk from Keikyu Kurihama Station; URL
YOKOHAMA SPARKLING TWILIGHT 2024 (Kanagawa): July 13-14, Aug. 10, 31, Sept. 14 and 21, 8-8:05 p.m.; 100 fireworks at Yokohama Port near Yamashita Park; a three-minute walk from Motomachi on Minato Mirai Line or minute walk from JR Ishikawa Station; URL
Minato Matsuri Noshiro FIREWORKS DISPLAY (Akita): July 20, 7:30-9 p.m.; 15,000 fireworks display at Noshiro Port Shitahama Futo; a 30-minute walk from JR Noshiro Station or 10-minute ride from Noshiro Minami I.C. on Akita Express; URL
HACHIOJI FIREWORKS DISPLAY (Western Tokyo): July 27, 7-8:30 p.m.; 3,500 works display at Fujimori Park; a 15-minute walk from JR Nishi-Hachioji Station or Yamada Station on Keio Line; URL
SHOWA KINEN PARK FIREWORK DISPLAY (Western Tokyo): July 27, 7:15-8:15 p.m.; about 5,000 fireworks in the “Open Field” at Showa Kinen Park; a 15-minute walk from JR Tachikawa Station; 450 yen for adults, 210 yen for children, free after 6 p.m.; URL
HIROSHIMA MINATO (PORT) DREAM FIREWORKS DISPLAY 2024 (Hiroshima): July 27, 8–8:40 p.m.; 10,000 fireworks display at Hiroshima Port 10,000 Ton Berth (Minamichiku), and most popular in Hiroshima; shuttle bus available from JR Hiroshima Station or a 15-minute walk from Kaigandori Streetcar stop after taking a streetcar from JR Hiroshima Station on Hiroshima Dentetsu Line; URL
2024 NAGASAKI PORT FIREWORKS FESTIVAL (Nagasaki): July 27-28, 8:30 p.m.; 10,000 fireworks display on two nights at Nagasaki Mizubeno-mori Koen and Nagasaki Port; a 15-minute walk from JR Nagasaki Station; 095-822-0111; URL
AUGUST
LAKE SAGAMI FIREWORKS DISPLAY (Kanagawa): Aug. 1, 7:30-8:40 p.m.; about 4,000 fireworks will be displayed along lakeside of Sagami; 4,000 yen for adults (designated seats), 8,000 yen for four people (designated seats); a 10-minute walk from Sagamiko Station on JR Chuo-Line; URL
LAKE SAIKO FIREWORKS FESTIVAL (Yamanashi): Aug. 2, 7:30-8 p.m.; fireworks display along with illumination of floating lanterns off the shore of the Lake Saiko Maehama; a 15-minure ride from Kawaguchiko I.C. on Chuo Express; URL
Mutsu City Fireworks Display (Aomori): Aug. 2, 7:30–8:20 p.m.; about 3,000 fireworks will be launched over the sea in Aomori; Ominato District in Mutsu City, Aomori Prefecture; URL
GOSHOGAWARA FIREWORKS FESTIVAL (Aomori): Aug. 3, 7:20–9 p.m.; 5,000 fireworks display beside the Iwakigawa River (Hokuto Athletic Field); a 15-minute walk from JR Goshogawara Station; URL
OME FIREWORKS DISPLAY (Western Tokyo): Aug. 3, 7:15-8:45 p.m.; 3,621 fireworks will be displayed at Nagayama Park; designated seats of 1,800-10,000 yen available; a 10-minute walk from JR Ome Station; URL
