Scheduled fireworks display events in Japan

*Note: Due to the ongoing pandemic, some events on the list may be canceled or postponed.

Throughout the summer, Japan’s night skies light up with the brilliance of “hanabi,” or fireworks.

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.

During the pandemic, the colorful displays were either postponed or put on as a surprise to avoid crowds gathering. This year, however, many cities around the country are bringing back their elaborate fireworks displays.

On Okinawa and mainland Japan, COVID-19 is still casting a cloud, but some of the annual fireworks displays are coming back to light up the skies over the island. Catch the pyrotechnics at some of the local Eisa festivals or hosted by resort hotels.

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?

Gotemba Premium Outlet Fireworks Display (Shizuoka Prefecture)
460 fireworks launched over Gotemba’s night sky.
Date: July 30, Aug. 6, 13, 20 and 27
Time: 8 p.m. (for 5 minutes)
Location: 1312 Fukazawa, Gotemba City, Shizuoka Prefecture
URL
Tel: 0550-81-3122

Nagasaki Minato Matsuri Fireworks Display (Nagasaki Prefecture)
10,000 fireworks against Nagasaki Port’s beautiful nightscape.
Date: July 30 and 31
Time: 8:30 p.m. (for 20 minutes)
Location: Nagasaki Port and Nagasaki Mizubenomori Park in Nagasaki Pref.
URL
Tel: 095-822-0111

Hakone - Lake Ashinoko Fireworks Week (Kanagawa Prefecture)
The night sky of Hakone Town and Lake Ashinoko will be lit up with over 2,000 fireworks, including shells of star mines and Niagara sparklers, blasting in synch to music every night for one week.
Period: July 31 – August 5

1. Kosuisai Fireworks Display (Lake Ashinoko)
Date: July 31
Time: 8 p.m. (for 15 minutes) 
Location: Motohakone (Ashinoko lakeside)

2. 1265 Grand Festival Fireworks (Motohakone District)
Date: Aug. 1
Time: 8 p.m. (for 15 minutes)
Location: Motohakone (Ashinoko lakeside)

3. Hakone-en Summer Night Festival Fireworks Display (Hakone Town)
Date: Aug. 2 and 3
Time: 8 p.m. (for 30 minutes)
Location: Hakone-en Amusement Park in Hakone Town

4. Kojiri Dragon God Festival Fireworks Display (Lake Ashinoko)
Date: Aug. 4
Time 8 p.m. (for 15 minutes)
Location: Kojiri District of Hakone Town

5. Toriiyaki Matsuri Fireworks Display (Hakone Town)
Date: Aug. 5
Time: 8 p.m. (for 15 minutes)
Location: Hakone Town

URL
Tel: 0460-83-6351

Minatomirai Smart Festival Fireworks Display (Kanagawa Prefecture)
20,000 fireworks with beautiful nightscape of Minatomirai District.
Date: Aug. 2
Time: 7:30 p.m. (for 30 minutes)
Location: Minatomirai 21 District in Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture
URL

Mutsu City Fireworks Display (Aomori Prefecture)
3,500 fireworks will be launched over the sea in Aomori.
Date: August 5
Time: 7:30 p.m. (for 50 minutes)
Location: Ominato District in Mutsu City, Aomori Prefecture
Tel: 0175-23-1311

Atsugi Ayu (Sweetfish) Festival Fireworks Display
One of the largest fireworks events in Kanagawa Prefecture with dramatic finale of a 656-foot-high “Niagara Falls” fireworks cascade.
Date: Aug. 6
Time: 7 p.m. (for 60 minutes)
Location: Sagami Riverbank
URL
Tel: 046-295-5496

Aomori Fireworks Festival (Aomori Prefecture)
You can enjoy both 11,000 fireworks and traditional “nebuta” lantern floats at the same time.
Date: Aug. 7
Time: 7:15 p.m. (for 105 minutes)
Location: Aomori Port (Aomori City in Aomori Prefecture)
URL
Tel: 017-718-1135

Miyagase Furusato Festival Fireworks Display (Kanagawa Prefecture)
Small-size fireworks, Bon odori, game and food booths near Camp Zama and NAF Atsugi.
Date: Aug. 11, 12, 15, 16, 19, 20 and 21
Time: 7:30 p.m. (for 10 minutes)
Location: Miyagase Lake Park in Kanagawa Prefecture
URL

Asia Port Festival in Kanmon 2022 (Yamaguchi Prefecture)
15,000 fireworks will light up the Kanmon Strait between Honshu and Kyushu islands.
Date: August 13
Time: 7:50 p.m. (for 50 minutes)
Location: Kaikyo Yume Tower and Aruka Port in Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture
URL
Tel: 083-223-2001

Shikamachi Furusato Summer Festival Fireworks Display (Nagasaki Prefecture)
1,200 fireworks over Sasebo Gulf for 30 minutes.
Date: August 13
Time: 9 p.m. (for 30 minutes)
Location: Shikamachi Fishing Port in Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture
URL
Tel: 0956-77-4111

Jingu Gaien Fireworks Display (Tokyo)
12,000 fireworks with music in the heart of Tokyo.
Date: Aug. 20
Time: 7:30 p.m. (for 60 minutes)
Location: Jingu Gaien in Kasumigaoka Town, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
URL

Koedo Kawagoe Fireworks (Saitama Prefecture)
8,000 fireworks will light up traditional district of Kawagoe in an impressive 90-minute display
Date: August 20
Time: 7 p.m. (for 90 minutes)
Admission to the site: 100 yen for city residents and 1,000 yen for visitors
Location: Abina Shinsui Park in Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture
URL
Tel: 049-224-5940

Hiratsuka Fireworks Display (Kanagawa Prefecture)
3,000 fireworks set to go off in a brilliant 45-minute-long display.
Date: Aug. 26
Time: 7 p.m. (for 45 minutes)
Location: Shonan Itako (at the mouth of the Sagami River) in Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture
URL