Hankyu Travel International tallied the number of people who applied for last year’s summer firework festival tour. The company have compiled the top 10 firework events together with detailed information.

1st Place – Omagari Fireworks Festival (Daisen, Akita Prefecture)

Said to be one of Japan’s 3 biggest firework festivals, this event is a national contest where firework teams from across Japan gather to compete. Before it starts to get dark, an earlier firework display will take place where coloured smoke fumes will paint the sky. Omagari is the only place in the country where a daytime firework display is showcased so be sure to check this one out!

2nd Place – Huis Ten Bosch Fireworks Display (Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture)

The firework display at Huis Ten Bosch is the largest in Kyushu. Here it’s possible to enjoy the fireworks while taking a dip in the pool. There are many highlights to look forward to at this event, including the launch of 100 spherical fireworks, and the ‘Dai Starmine’ which sees 5,000 fireworks launched within the space of 5 minutes!

3rd Place – Nagaoka Fireworks (Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture)

In the year following the Bombing of Nagaoka in 1945, the Nagaoka Fukkousai was held, which is the origin of the Nagaoka Festival. It marked the revival of the firework festival which was had been stopped due to the war. It has been held for over 70 years ever since. The fireworks mark remembrance for the dead, as well as revival and peace. All of them are big scale and worth seeing.

4th Place – Atami Sea Fireworks (Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture)

The Atami Sea Fireworks are held throughout the year and are a famous part of Atami. They tend to have even more fireworks during the summer than the other seasons. They have a long history having been displayed since 1952. The event was set up to revive goodwill after the typhoon in 1949 and fire in 1950.

5th Place – Kachimai Fireworks (Obihiro, Hokkaido)

The Kachimai Fireworks was first held in 1929 as Hokkaido’s first firework display. This year will be its 68th run, for which they plan to offer new surprises and moving experience once more. The firework finale is a spectacle to behold, lighting up the night sky first with a brocade crown and falling gracefully in a golden colour.

6th Place – Miyajima Water Fireworks Festival (Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture)

At the Miyajima Water Fireworks Festival, fireworks are launched from boats in the middle of the water. Of the planned 5,000 to be launched, 150 of those will be shot from underwater. This captivating sight will trickle overhead above Itsukushima Shrine and the floating torii gate.

7th Place – Gion Kashiwazaki Festival Sea Fireworks (Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture)

The Gion Kashiwazaki Festival Sea Fireworks are held every year on July 26. The ‘Wide Starmine’ is an overwhelming sight, with fireworks launching across 600 meters from one end to the other. The firework festival archives back to 1840 at the end of the Edo Period where it was held as a religious event during Gion Matsuri at Yasaka Shrine.

8th Place – Kanmon Straits Fireworks Display (Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture / Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture)

This is a co-hosted event between Yamaguchi Prefecture and Moji-ku in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture which are separate by the Kanmon Straits. The fireworks take place on both sides of Shimonoseki and Moji-ku where you can enjoy both the lit-up Kanmon Bridge and glow of the fireworks at once. It’s a huge national gathering that brings in around 1.2 million people on both sides every year.

9th Place – Lake Biwa Great Fireworks Festival (Otsu, Shiga Prefecture)

The Lake Biwa Great Fireworks Festival was first held back in 1984. The theme of the festival changes each year. This year, the theme is ’embarking on a rainbow-coloured journey.’ The event has many must-see performances, including their ‘Starmine’ which makes full use of Lake Biwa, boasting the largest area in Japan where fireworks take place.

10th Place – Lake Toya Fireworks (Abuta District, Hokkaido)

The number of tourists at Lake Toya Hot Springs dropped in 1977 due to the eruption of Mount Usu. In order to bring back tourism, this firework festival was set up in 1982. Gorgeous fireworks can be gazed every day between April 28 to October 31, and you can even enjoy them on top of the water if you ride the specially prepared boat.