10 Spectacular Fireworks Festivals in Japan

Summer may be Japan's quietest season for tourism, but it is also when locals slip into yukata, stroll through gardens, soak up the sun, and head out to the spectacular fireworks festivals held across the country. Here are 10 of the country's most dazzling fireworks festivals — they might just convince you to visit at this time of year.

50 Must-Visit Places in Japan

10 Japanese Fireworks Festivals You Must See

1. Tsuchiura Fireworks Festival

This is one of the three All Japan Fireworks Competitions, held in the city of Tsuchiura, Ibaraki Prefecture. It brings together fireworks artists from across Japan. The competition dates back to 1925 and takes place every year on the first Saturday of October, from around 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

2. Biwako Fireworks Festival

This festival is held at Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake, in Shiga Prefecture, about 10 minutes from Kyoto. The highlight is a display of more than 10,000 fireworks, made even more beautiful by their reflections on the lake. It is usually held in early August each year.

3. Akagawa Fireworks Festival

This is one of Japan's most famous fireworks festivals. The open sky allows some fireworks to spread up to 700 meters wide. It is held along the Akagawa River in Yamagata Prefecture, usually in late August each year.

4. Nagaoka Fireworks Festival

This is another of the All Japan Fireworks Competitions, held in the city of Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture, featuring up to 20,000 fireworks. The festival, which has been held for more than 70 years, is known for synchronizing its fireworks with music. It takes place in early August each year.

5. Omagari National Fireworks Competition

This is another of the three All Japan Fireworks Competitions, drawing as many as 800,000 visitors each year. Japan's top fireworks artists gather to compete, with a different theme every year, and the winner even receives a prize from the Prime Minister of Japan. It is held in Akita Prefecture in late August each year.

6. Toyota Oiden Festival

This lively festival offers more than just fireworks. Visitors can enjoy costumed performances and dance music, with a fireworks display created by renowned Japanese fireworks artists as the highlight. It is held on the last Sunday of July every year in Aichi Prefecture.

7. Suwako Festival

This is one of the largest fireworks displays in Japan, with up to 40,000 fireworks each year. The festival dates back to 1949 and draws more than 500,000 visitors annually. Set against a backdrop of lake and mountains, it offers an atmosphere quite different from other festivals.

8. Kumano Fireworks Festival

This is one of the few fireworks displays in Japan set against the sea, held on the beach in Kumano, Mie Prefecture. This festival has continued for more than 300 years and takes place every year on August 17, with fireworks launched from two boats floating out at sea.

9. Kachimai Fireworks

Hokkaido stays cooler than the rest of the country, making it a popular summer destination for Japanese travelers — and this fireworks festival draws large crowds as a result. The display combines fireworks with a light and sound show for visitors. It is held in mid-August each year.

10. Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival
This is one of the most attended fireworks festivals in Japan, drawing close to a million visitors. It dates back to the Edo period and features more than 20,000 fireworks launched over the Sumida River in Tokyo, all designed by nationally renowned fireworks artists.