Many foreign tourists who come to Japan for sightseeing around the summer are looking forward to the Japanese fireworks festival. The appeal of fireworks festivals held in Japan is not only the attractive fireworks, but also the food stalls that are held at the same time.
In this article, we will introduce detailed information about the fireworks festival that is scheduled to be held in 2024. If you are interested in participating in a fireworks festival in Japan, please watch until the end.
■7 fireworks festivals scheduled to be held in 2024
Here we will introduce seven fireworks festivals scheduled to be held in 2024. However, it may be canceled suddenly due to weather conditions such as rain or the spread of infectious diseases. Information about fireworks festivals is often posted on the official website, so be sure to check it frequently.
【April 28th – October 31st】Toyako Long Run Fireworks Festival (Hokkaido)
The Toyako Long Run Fireworks Festival will be held every night for about six months from April 28th to October 31st. The attraction is that large fireworks are launched every night, beautifully coloring the surface of Lake Toya and the night sky.
Also popular are the fireworks viewing boat, where you can ride on a boat while watching the fireworks, and the Ura Fireworks Cruise, where you can see the behind-the-scenes of the fireworks that you can’t usually see. Please note that if you wish to enjoy the fireworks display while on a boat, a separate boarding fee will be required.
【July 13th】National fireworks festival dedicated to Ise Jingu Shrine (Mie Prefecture)
The “National fireworks festival dedicated to Ise Jingu Shrine” will be held in Mie Prefecture on July 13th. It is one of Japan’s three major competitive fireworks festivals, and you can enjoy watching carefully selected fireworks. This fireworks festival began as a one-of-a-kind festival dedicated to fireworks at Ise Grand Shrine.
It is held nationwide in the early summer, and fireworks makers from all over the country gather to dedicate fireworks to the shrine. It is also a place for fireworks makers to pray for safety for the coming year.
【August 2nd and 3rd】 Nagaoka Festival Fireworks Festival (Niigata Prefecture)
The Nagaoka Festival Fireworks Festival will be held in Niigata Prefecture on August 2nd and 3rd. Fireworks will be displayed from 19:20 to 21:10 on the same day. During the war on August 1, 1945, Nagaoka was bombed from 9:30 p.m. for 1 hour and 40 minutes, and 80% of the old city was burnt to the ground. On August 1, 1946, the year after this air raid, the Nagaoka Fukko Festival, the predecessor of the Nagaoka Festival Fireworks Festival, was held for the first time.
There are no free seats available for this year’s fireworks display, so if you wish to watch the fireworks display, you will need to purchase a ticket. Please be sure to wear your purchased ticket around your neck when entering.
【August 3rd】 Sakata Fireworks (Yamagata Prefecture)
“Sakata Fireworks” is held in Yamagata Prefecture on August 3rd. Taking full advantage of the wide area at the mouth of the Mogami River, you can enjoy dynamic fireworks with a maximum width of 2km.
The launch originally began in 1929 to commemorate Sakata Port being designated as a Class 2 Important Port. Since 2003, the location has been moved to Mogami River Park in Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture, where the Sakata Fireworks are currently held. The event will be held rain or shine, but there will be no postponement in the event of cancellation due to inclement weather.
【August 13】 Kanmon Strait Fireworks Festival (Yamaguchi Prefecture/Fukuoka Prefecture)
The Kanmon Straits Fireworks Festival will be held on August 13th at the Kanmon Straits on the border of Yamaguchi and Fukuoka prefectures. A total of 15,000 fireworks are set off from both banks of Shimonoseki (Yamaguchi Prefecture) and Moji (Fukuoka Prefecture) against the backdrop of the beautiful night view of the Kanmon Strait.
It is one of Japan’s leading fireworks festivals, and the opening ceremony is held on the Shimonoseki side. Also, the events held at the same time as the fireworks display are also attractive. Night stalls are scheduled to open in two locations: inside the main venue and in front of Kaikyo Yume Tower. In addition, Shimonoseki Aquarium Kaikyokan will extend its business hours and will be open until 23:00.
【August 15】Suwa Lake Festival Lake Fireworks Festival (Nagano Prefecture)
The Suwa Lake Festival Fireworks Festival will be held in Nagano Prefecture on August 15th. It was originally started in the hope that citizens would get back on their feet as soon as possible with bright hope during the chaos of the end of the war. For this reason, a fireworks display is held every year on August 15th, the anniversary of the end of World War II.
The show boasts an overwhelming sense of scale, including a floating star mine that can only be found on a lake. Also, because Lake Suwa is surrounded by mountains on all sides, the sound of fireworks reverberates off the mountains and resonates to the core of your body.
【August 31】 96th National Fireworks Competition “Omagari Fireworks” (Akita Prefecture)
The 96th National Fireworks Competition “Omagari Fireworks” will be held in Akita Prefecture on August 31st. Fireworks artists selected from all over Japan will set off their fireworks, aiming to be the best in Japan.
The fireworks that are set off here are subject to strict examination, and numerous awards are awarded, including the Prime Minister’s Award. In addition to the competition, other attractions include the opening ceremony and a special program by the previous year’s Prime Minister’s Award winners. It is also the only fireworks festival in Japan where fireworks are held during the day.
■Be sure to go to Japan’s fireworks festival
In this article, we introduced information about the fireworks festival that is scheduled to be held in 2024. Fireworks festivals are an essential part of summer in Japan. Many fireworks festivals are held every year, and as introduced in this article, many have already been scheduled to be held in 2024.
Although there is a possibility that the event may be canceled at short notice due to weather or other factors, please be sure to include participation in the fireworks festival in your plans when visiting Japan.
【Q＆A】
Q.Is it free to participate in the fireworks festival?
A.Sometimes it’s free, and sometimes there’s a fee that requires the purchase of a ticket, depending on the fireworks festival. However, in recent years, the number of paid fireworks displays has increased. If there is a fireworks festival you would like to participate in, be sure to check the official website.
Q.What are the reasons for the fireworks festival to be canceled?
A. There are various reasons why fireworks festivals are canceled, including weather, the spread of infectious diseases, and lack of personnel. In particular, the weather and the spread of infectious diseases are difficult to predict, and there may be cases where the event is canceled at short notice. When going to a fireworks display, be sure to check the official website to see if it will be held.
