7 best fireworks festivals in and near Tokyo this summer

Head to the banks of the Arakawa River on Saturday July 22 to catch the Adachi Fireworks display, which is returning for the first time in four years. The history of this festival goes back to 1924, and this year 15,000 fireworks will be set off during the hour-long event.

You can watch the fireworks from either the Nishi-Arai or Senju side of the Arakawa River between Nishi-Arai and Senjushin bridges. Tickets for seats will also be available from June onwards. Keep an eye on the website for the latest information.

This is Tokyo's biggest fireworks festival and is another one returning for the first time since 2019 following a series of cancellations due to Covid-19 restrictions. It takes place on Saturday July 29 this year.

Not only is the Sumida River Fireworks Festival the biggest of its kind in Tokyo, it's also one of Japan's oldest fireworks events. It dates back to 1733, when it was staged as part of a ceremony to pray for victims of a severe famine the previous year. It's been an annual event since 1978 and attracts close to a million people every year.

This year's display starts at 7pm and will run for around 90 minutes, with a staggering 20,000 shells of fireworks. The fireworks are launched from two sites on the Sumida River around Asakusa Station: one near Umaya Bridge and the other near Sakurabashi Bridge. You can check out the locations on the festival website.

Yukata-clad spectators crowd the streets of Harajuku and Aoyama during the mesmerising Jingu Gaien Fireworks Festival, a display that ranks as one of Tokyo's top summer festivals. Now in its 42nd year, this edition takes place on Saturday August 12 and will boast 12,000 fireworks.

The cluster of sports stadiums to the south of Sendagaya Station offer the best vantage points, with seating available at Meiji Jingu Stadium and Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium. Ticket prices have yet to be announced.

Alternatively, just wander around the surrounding area until you find somewhere you can see the action for free. The fireworks display lasts for one hour from 7.30pm to 8.30pm.

In case of stormy weather, the festival will be postponed to August 13.

This spectacular fireworks display takes place in Sakura, Chiba prefecture, which is around 90 minutes from Tokyo. It's definitely worth the journey to see a staggering 18,000 fireworks set off on Saturday August 5.

The Sakura Citizen Fireworks Festival takes place at Lake Inbanuma next to Sakura Furusato Square, which is famous for its windmill. The event starts at 7pm with handheld tezutsu hanabi fireworks before the main fireworks display from 7.20pm to 8.30pm.

It’s possible to watch the fireworks for free from nearby areas, but we recommend buying tickets to get the best views. A ticket for the standing area is ¥1,000 and reserved seating is ¥2,000 per person. Table seating for up to four people starts from ¥12,000 and there are also boxes that can seat up to five people from ¥20,000. Tickets are available online now.

Just over 30 minutes from Shinagawa Station on the shinkansen, the hot spring town of Atami in Shizuoka is an ideal weekend getaway. The coastal resort is also widely known for its massive fireworks shows, and there will be six happening throughout summer.

The fireworks are launched from Atami Bay, so you’ll get the best views along the coastline between Sun Beach and Atami Port. Being partially surrounded by mountains, Atami Bay’s mortar-like terrain helps create an acoustic effect similar to that of a large stadium.

The fireworks festivals take place on July 28 as well as August 5, 8, 18, 22 and 25, from 8.20pm to 8.45pm.

Take a trip to Kawaguchiko in Yamanashi prefecture for the Kawaguchiko Kojo Matsuri summer festival, which takes place on Saturday August 5. You'll be able to see fireworks launched from the middle of the lake between the eastern shore and Kawaguchiko Bridge. The gigantic starmines will not only be reflected on the water’s surface but also synchronised to music.

For an up-close view, head to Oike Park or either one of these two shores – Funatsuhama and Hirahama. Between Oike Park and the Komagari Tunnel lakeside, dozens of food stalls will line the street, selling typical festival grub.

Pro tip: if it’s a clear night, make a beeline for the other side of the lake, around Nagasaki Park or Oishi Park. Here you’ll have an uninterrupted view of the fireworks, with the towering silhouette of Mt Fuji in the background.