When May rolls around in Japan, ticket sales open for the country’s many firework festivals. It is the season when Japanese people start checking their calendars so they don’t miss out on the summer fireworks and being drawing up any travel plans if they are attending a faraway festival.
Today we will take a look at the Top 10 firework events to attend in Japan this summer as ranked by Hankyu Travel International from the number of attendees from last year’s festivals.
1st Place: Omagari Fireworks Festival (Daisen, Akita Prefecture)
Soaring in at No. 1 is the Omagari Fireworks Festival. Boasting a bright history of over 100 years, this famous festival enjoys an attendance rate exceeding 700,000 every single year. As well as the general display, the event also holds a firework competition which sees firework masters from all across Japan come together in a battle to put on the best light show. Some of these experts have received various awards such as the Prime Minister Award and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Award. Omagari is also the only place in Japan to hold a firework competition in the late afternoon.
The theme for 2019 is Heizei Rinrin (“the awe-inspiring ordinary”). In the latter half of of the program, a display will be held called “Firework Musical Reiwa Festival” where over 2,000 fireworks will be launched. It will commemorate the new Reiwa era of Japan with hit songs from the Heisei period and more.
Date: August 31, 2019
Time: Afternoon Fireworks – From 17:15 / Evening Fireworks – From 18:50
Location: Omagari, Daisen, Akita Prefecture (大仙市大曲 雄物川河畔)
Access: 30-minutes on foot from JR Omagari Station
▼Omagari Fireworks Festival Details & Tour (Japanese)
https://www.hankyu-travel.com/kokunai/event/oomagari/?p_baitai=9599
2nd Place: Nagaoka Fireworks Festival (Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture)
On August 1, 1945, the lives of 1,488 locals were taken during the Bombing of Nagaoka. The following year, a festival was held in an effort to aid in restoring the destroyed town. This is the precedent to the annual Nagaoka Festival which includes a firework display. It has been held every year for over 70 years with people from all over the country travelling to attend it. It is considered one of the main three firework festivals of Japan.
2019’s program has several famous fireworks lined up for the display as well as the Phoenix, a firework to commemorate the restoration of the Chuetsu area of Niigata Prefecture from the earthquake back in 2004.
Date: August 2, 2019 – August 3, 2019 (*Nagaoka Festival will take place on August 1)
Time: 19:20-21:15
Location: Riverside of Shinano River under the Chosei Bridge in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture
Access: 30-minutes on foot from JR Nagaoka Station
▼Nagaoka Fireworks Festival Details & Tour (Japanese)
https://www.hankyu-travel.com/kokunai/event/nagaoka-hanabi/?p_baitai=9599
3rd Place: Huis Ten Bosch Fireworks Festival (Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture)
The Huis Ten Bosch Fireworks Festival is the biggest in all of Kyushu. Fireworks can be enjoyed at Huis Ten Bosch all throughout the year, but what’s special about this year’s festival are two particular displays: one which will be combined with music from Studio Ghibli films and another being a competition between firework experts from all around the world. The estimated number of fireworks to be launched is around 22,000. Don’t miss out!
Dates
Ghibli Music Fireworks: July 13, 2019
Summer Special Fireworks: August 10, 2019
Kyushu Fireworks Competition: September 21, 2019
Location: Huis Ten Bosch
Access: 5-minutes on foot from JR Huis Ten Bosch Station
▼Huis Ten Bosch Hotel Tour & Information (Japanese)
https://www.hankyu-travel.com/kyushu/nagasaki/huistenbosch/?p_baitai=9599
4th Place: Ashikaga Fireworks Festival (Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture)
This year will mark the 105th run of the Ashikagawa Fireworks Festival which takes place beside the Watarase River. Last Year, Hankyu Travel International offered a tour plan consisting of both the Ashikagawa Fireworks Festival and the Kiryuyagibushi Festival. The latter gained popularity for its program which included a Blue Impulse performance, an aerobatic demonstration from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. The finale of this year’s Ashikagawa festival will feature an 800 meter firework display.
Date: August 3, 2019
Time: 19:00-20:45
Location: Under Tanaka Bridge near Fujioka Watarase Sports Park and the riverside
Access: 5-minutes on foot from Ashikaga Station via the JR Ryomo Line
5th Place: Kachimai Fireworks Festival (Obihiro, Hokkaido)
The Kachimai Fireworks Festival is organised by Tokachi Mainichi News which celebrates 100 years since launching this year. The first run of this festival dates back to 1929 when it was the first ever fireworks festival to be held in Hokkaido. In recent years, the company have set up a live VR stream which offers a a 360° view of the fireworks and festival. This year, to celebrate Tokachi Mainichi’s 100th anniversary, they will also hold a demonstration on how fireworks are launched for the first time. The finale will be the Nishikikamuro, a special firework launch synonymous with the festival, which will light up the night sky with a spectacular display.
Date: August 13, 2019
Time: 19:30-21:00
Location: 400 meters along the Tokachi Ohashi Bridge in Obihiro, Hokkaido
Access: 30-minutes on foot from JR Obihiro Station
▼Kamachi Fireworks Festival Tour (Japanese)
For numbers 6-10 on the list check out Hankyu Travel International’s website below.
Information
Summer Fireworks Festivals: https://www.hankyu-travel.com/kokunai/event/?p_baitai=9599
Hankyu Travel International Official Website: https://www.hankyu-travel.com/
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TEL: 03-6914-2668