Fireworks festival (hanabi taikai) is the highlight of Japan’s summer. Watching the fireworks while wearing a traditional yukata will become unforgettable experience. I’ll share some tips on how to make the most of Japanese fireworks festivals — plus a list of must-bring items to enjoy the night comfortably.
Japanese fireworks festivals are extremely popular and often crowded. If you want to sit down and enjoy the fireworks at a relaxed pace, it’s important to reserve a spot early. Popular viewing areas are usually riverbanks and parks. For free seating areas, it is better to secure your position about two hours before the show. You just put your chairs or ground sheet on the ground and come back when the show starts.
Tip: In big cities like Tokyo and Osaka, some festivals prohibit saving spots in advance, so check the rules before you go.
The festival grounds are lined with yatai (stalls) offering unique snacks and fun games you can only experience at summer festivals.
Candy apples (ringo-ame) are highly recommended! Many people may recognize them from anime scenes where young boys and girls in yukata enjoy this.
Important: Most food stalls do not accept cashless payments, so bring plenty of coins and small bills (100 yen, 1000 yen).
At some local festivals, you can also join Bon Odori, a traditional Japanese dance open to everyone. Dancing with locals is a fun and memorable way to experience Japanese culture.
If you don’t like crowds, another option is to watch fireworks from a restaurant or hotel with a good view. You can sit back, enjoy a meal, and watch the show in comfort.
Reservations usually sell out quickly, so it’s best to book at least two months in advance.
Wearing a yukata (summer kimono) and wooden sandals (geta) is the best way to immerse yourself in the Japanese summer atmosphere. You can rent them easily in most cities. Plus, fireworks photos with a yukata background are super instagrammable!
In riverside and park viewing areas, it’s common to bring a ground sheet or foldable chair. Festivals are long and crowded, so securing your spot in advance with something to sit on will make a big difference.
Japan’s summer is hot and humid. A simple uchiwa fan will keep you cool and let you experience summer the traditional way. You can buy one cheaply at convenience stores or 100-yen shops.
Fireworks are beautiful but tricky to capture because it is often dark around. Bringing a camera that performs well at night is better.
My iPhone 14 Plus captures fireworks beautifully in low light！
Japanese summers may not be extremely hot, but the high humidity makes it easy to get dehydrated. Bring your own drinks, as convenience stores might be far from the venue and stalls become crowded once the fireworks start.
For food, I recommend buying from the festival stalls — they offer many unique foods available only during fireworks season, so let’s try!
During the summer, fireworks festivals are held all across Japan. If the big event you wanted to see doesn’t fit your schedule, don’t give up! You’ll likely find a local fireworks festival.
You can search for fireworks festivals that match your travel dates on Japanese event websites.
