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Summer means fireworks in Japan. Almost every weekend until September, there will be a major fireworks festival in some part of Japan. Here are a few of the better known fireworks festivals in Japan, but for a more complete list, visit http://hanabi.walkerplus.com.
Sumida River (Tokyo)
This is one of the oldest and biggest fireworks festival in Japan, dating back to 1733. More than 25,000 fireworks will be let off. Last year, an estimated 1 million people lined the banks of the Sumida River.
Date: Sat July 26 Time: 7:05 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Tokyo Bay
About 12,000 fireworks will be shot up from barges in Tokyo Bay. The best views are from Harumi Park, near Kachidoki Station on the Oedo subway line. You can also get a good view from Odaiba. The bay will be dotted with yakatabune and cruise ships, angling for good positions. This event is usually held on a Saturday night, but this year, it’s happening on Sunday. Date: Sun Aug 10 Time: 6:50 p.m. – 8:10 p.m.
Edogawa Fireworks Festival
About 14,000 fireworks will be launched, including a massive 1,000-shell salvo at the start. Best vantage points are near JR Shinozaki or Koiwa stations.
Date: Sat Aug 2 Time: From 7:15 p.m.
Jingumae (Tokyo)
About 10,000 fireworks will explode over the skies of Gaienmae and the National Stadium area. Date: Sat Aug 16 Time: 7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Kanagawa Shimbun Fireworks Competition (Yokohama)
Around 15,000 fireworks will light up the sky over Yokohama. The Minato Mirai area is the best place to see the action.
Date: Tues Aug 5 Time: 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Minato Kobe Fireworks Festival
This festival will be held at the seaside, with fireworks set off from port’s jetty area.
Date: Sat Aug 2 Time: 7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Omagari Fireworks Competition (Akita)
One of the Tohoku’s biggest fireworks competitions with about 18,000 rockets. The fireworks are set off by pyrotechnic teams from all over Japan. The best vantage point is along the Marukogawa River, near Omagari Station.
Date: Sat Aug 23rd Times: 5:30 p.m.- 6:30 p.m. ( day session) 6:50 p.m.- 9:30 p.m. (night session)
The Chunichi Newspaper All-Japan Fireworks Festival (Gifu)
This festival has a day session and a night session. Best viewing spots are along the Nagara River. Nearest station is JR Gifu Station.
Date: Sat July 26 Times: 12 noon – 7:15 p.m. (day session) 7:20 p.m. – 8:45 p.m. (night session)
Nagaoka Fireworks Festival (Niigata)
This is considered one of the three biggest fireworks festivals in Japan, spanning two nights, with over 40,000 shells being launched. Best spots are along the banks of the Shinano River, not far from JR Nagaoka Station. Reserved seating is also available at this festival.
Date: Sat Aug 2, Sun Aug 3 Time: 7:25 p.m. – 9:10 p.m.
Kanmon Straits Fireworks Festival (Kyushu)
This festival is unique in that the fireworks will be set off on both banks of the Kanmon Straits, the stretch of water separating two of Japan's four main islands.
Date: Wed Aug 13 Time: 7:50 p.m. – 8:40 p.m. (Opening ceremony will be held at Shimonoseki at 7:40 p.m.)
Miyajima (Hiroshima)
More than 5,000 shells will be launched from boats off Miyajima Island (famous for its giant torii gates). Itsukushima Shrine provides the best vantage point.
Date: Mon Aug 11 Time: 7:40 p.m. – 8:40 p.m.
© Japan Today
14 Comments
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nath
I love hanabi. As usual in Japan though, too many people at these events. Need a friend with penthouse view of the river or tokyo bay.
Kurobune
During my more than twenty years living in Japan, I saw many of the big "hanabi" shows. And some very entertaining local ones. Sumida several times. Japan has THE BEST in the world ! Hands down !
DiscoJ
Of course having a private high-up view is preferable, but having rainstorms clear out hundreds of people right before hand (like Adachi-ku last week) helps too.
WA4TKG
What about on Okinawa ?
Moderator
Please click on the link in the first paragraph.
sighclops
200,000+ at Edogawa last year. No phone reception for hours. If you're going, get there early! It's absolute mayhem, as Shinozaki was not designed to handle such an immense volume of people.
candykendie
oh, wow! i wish i could go and visit Japan..my dream..
Kurobune
Go get that dream, candy ! It was mine once too, way back in my jr. high days, and I ended up living it for more than twenty years ! Good luck to you !
tinawatanabe
Shinozaki station is not JR, it's Toei Shinjyuku line.
Bartholomew Harte
My family went to watch Edogawa Hanabi & not only were the fireworks fantastic the locals were as well!- a far cry from my many excursions to watch the Macy's fireworks show in N.Y. I plan on seeing many more Hanabi in JAPAN!!!
B.B.Q.Demon
The Okazaki hanabi show in early August is awesome. Japan has great fireworks.
nath
I do like Hanabi.
In my home country a few decades back most people decided to cut back on new years fireworks and instead donate the main the money to charities.
We realised how much my money literally went up in smoke, seeing a big hanabi like the sumida one costs a LOT with on rocket often exceeding 1000 USD.
Shiro Someya
Hi, I agree that definitely it will be really great to catch up Sumidagawa HANABI festival, the most popular fireworks in Japan. As well as that one, actually there're many fireworks in Tokyo and Yokohama.
I heard that the one held in the Yamashita park, Yokohama city will be also exciting, it seems that's the newest fireworks recently in Kanagawa and Tokyo. I assume that it's a brand-new trend, then we'll have a meetup under such a nice great fireworks, if you have any interests on it, feel free to join us!
http://www.triphugger.com/2015SummerFireworks0718_en.htm
Thanks! Shiro