A summary of the fireworks festivals held in Tokyo - Mostly in July and August in the summer, but there are also ones in autumn and winter!

Speaking of summer in Japan, it has to be fireworks! Fireworks festivals are held all over the country, and gorgeous fireworks color the night sky. However, fireworks festivals are not only held in summer!

In this article, we summarize the dates, locations, and precautions for the fireworks festivals held in summer, autumn, and winter in Tokyo every year. Bookmark this article so that you can get all the information about fireworks festivals in Tokyo and how to enjoy them all at once, and be sure to add fireworks viewing to your travel plans in Japan!

How to enjoy a fireworks display while staying in Japan

Let's learn some tips and things to keep in mind to enjoy fireworks festivals in Japan, and make the fireworks festivals even more exciting!

1) Understand the progress and content of the fireworks display

The more fireworks are launched, the longer the event time will be. Fireworks display times vary depending on the scale of the event, with some fireworks lasting 30 minutes and others over an hour. Also, during the launch time, you can divide the parts such as "1st act" and "2nd act" and launch fireworks with different effects, or change the type of fireworks ball to be launched. Also, at the fireworks display, fireworks may be launched in order according to different themes divided into different areas. Knowing the progress and content of each event will allow you to better plan your schedule for the day.

2) Stroll around the food stalls

Many stalls are set up around the fireworks display. You can enjoy the selling of delicious food such as skewers, takoyaki, and cotton candy, as well as games such as goldfish scooping and target shooting games! Get there early on the day of the event and fully experience Japanese festival culture.

3) Put on a yukata

In order to enjoy the Japanese atmosphere even more, it is recommended that you wear a yukata to participate in the fireworks display! It's a chance to take great pictures of yourself in a yukata looking around the festival stalls or watching the fireworks.

4) Bring a leisure (picnic) sheet

If you want to see the fireworks in a more beautiful place, finding a spot is important. Enter early, lay out a leisure (picnic) sheet, and leave at least one person waiting there to secure a place. However, do not reserve a spot or spray the lawn with color spray from the day before the event.

5) Check in advance whether a ticket is required for entry

Some fireworks festivals may only accept people who have tickets to enter, so make sure to check in advance if you need to purchase tickets or draw lots.

List of fireworks festivals held in Tokyo in July & recommended fireworks festivals

*Please note that there may be traffic restrictions around the venue on the day of the event.

Various fireworks festivals are held in Tokyo in July. Among them are the “Tokyo SUGOI Fireworks”, which collaborates with artists and labels to set off fireworks synchronized with music, and the large-scale “Adachi Fireworks Festival”, which takes place on the Arakawa Kasenshiki (riverbank).

There is also the "Katsushika Noryo Fireworks Festival", which has an old-fashioned atmosphere, and the "Sumida River Fireworks Festival", a summer tradition that has continued since the Edo period! There are also many wonderful fireworks festivals, such as the "Hachioji Fireworks Display", where you can enjoy a wide variety of starmine fireworks that color the summer night, and the "Tachikawa Festival and Fireworks at Showa Kinen Park", where you can enjoy elaborate fireworks such as the Japan Fireworks Art Association's Geikyodama fireworks and original starmines.

Adachi Fireworks Festival

"Adachi Fireworks Festival" is a fireworks festival held earlier than other fireworks festivals on the Arakawa Kasenshiki riverbank in Tokyo. Another feature is that the viewing space and the fireworks launch site are close, so you can enjoy the powerful fireworks up close. In addition, one of the attractions is the elaborate launch, such as a collaboration with starmine fireworks that matche the music.

💡TIPS

• Less-known viewing spot: Near Ogibashi Bridge.
• Stall Information: After exiting the ticket gates of Kita-Senju Station, stalls are lined up on the road toward the bank of the Arakawa River (the launch site).
• Note: Adachi-odai Station and Senjuohashi Station are relatively crowded, but relatively moderate, so access from these stations is recommended (approximately 25 minutes on foot from the station)

Sumida River Fireworks Festival

"Sumida River Fireworks Festival" is derived from the fireworks of "Ryogoku no Kawabiraki" in 1733. After several interruptions in the course of history, it was revived as the Sumida River Fireworks Festival in 1978.

Currently, the launch site is divided into two venues, the first venue is the area from the downstream of Sakura Bridge to the upstream of Kototoi Bridge, where fireworks competitions are held in which the fireworks creators who have achieved excellent results in numerous competitions gather together to compete.

At the Sumida River Fireworks Festival, you can enjoy a wonderful view of fireworks against the background of skyscrapers, including Tokyo Skytree®.

💡TIPS

• Less-known viewing spot: Dozobori Park. A popular less-known spot where you can beautifully see the fireworks at the first and second venues.
• Stall information: Stall locations can be broadly divided into areas around parks and other facilities, and areas around stations. For park facilities are those around Azumabashi, Sumida Park, Senso-ji Temple, and for area around stations are around Kuramae Station and Oshiage Station.
• Note: There will be traffic restrictions on the day of the event, and the area around the venue will be crowded. We recommend using public transportation rather than a car. However, please note that Asakusa Station and Oshiage Station are crowded and it takes time to move to the exit.

List of fireworks festivals held in Tokyo in August & recommended fireworks festivals

*Please note that there may be traffic restrictions around the venue on the day of the event.

The Itabashi Fireworks Festival is full of highlights, including Tokyo's largest "shaku-gosun-dama" fireworks and the Kanto region's longest (700m) Great Niagara Falls fireworks. The "Edogawa Fireworks Festival" features 8 different themes accompanied by BGM according to each theme. The "Jingu Gaien Fireworks Festival" let you enjoy live performances by gorgeous artists along with fireworks. These August fireworks displays make summer nights even more fun.

Edogawa Fireworks Festival

First held in 1976, the "Edogawa Fireworks Festival" is currently being held at two venues on the same day as the "Ichikawa Citizens Noryo Fireworks Festival" - it is a large-scale fireworks display with a total of about 14,000 fireworks. Based on 8 different themes, splendid fireworks are launched one after another according to the background music. There are plenty of things to see, such as 1,000 fireworks during the opening five seconds and the powerful Mt. Fuji fireworks!

From the wide riverbank, you can enjoy the powerful fireworks up close without the obstacles of skyscrapers.

💡TIPS

• Less-known viewing spot: The embankment near Edogawa Ohashi Bridge.
• Stall information: At the Edogawa Fireworks Festival, stalls are not allowed to open around the venue, but at the Ichikawa Citizens Noryo Fireworks Festival, which is jointly held on the opposite bank of the Edogawa River, stalls are lined up near the venue.
• Note: "Shinozaki Station" and "Koiwa Station" are expected to be crowded, so we recommend using "Edogawa Station"

Jingu Gaien Fireworks Festival

The first Jingu Gaien Fireworks Festival was held at the Jingu Stadium on August 1st, 1980 as an event commemorating the 60th anniversary of the enshrinement of the Meiji Jingu Shrine, and has since become an annual event.

With approximately 10,000 fireworks, you can enjoy a powerful show spectacular. In addition, depending on the venue, live performances by famous artists will be held, further enhancing the charm of the Jingu Gaien Fireworks Festival.

There are two venues, Jingu Stadium and Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, and a paid viewing ticket is required to enter, and a viewing ticket is required even for children over the age of 4.

💡TIPS

• Recommended viewing spot: Jingu stadium venue. You can enjoy live performances by gorgeous guests along with fireworks.
• Stall information: Every year, the route from Gaienmae Station to Jingu Stadium, along the road in Meiji Park, etc.
• Note: Stadium Street is currently under construction (July 2023), so the sidewalks are very narrow. Avoid using Gaienmae Station when going to Jingu Stadium/Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium

Autumn and winter fireworks festivals in Tokyo

Fireworks Festival	Date and time	Venue	Number of Launches	Access
Chofu Fireworks Festival	(2017 onwards) September/October every year	Around Tama River, Chofu City	About 10,000 fireworks	Fuda Venue: 20 minutes on foot from Fuda Station Keio Tamagawa Venue: 10 minutes walk from Tamagawa Station
Setagaya Ward Tamagawa Fireworks Festival	(From 2018) October every year	Setagaya Ward Futako Tamagawa Green Playground	About 6,000 fireworks	15 minute walk from Futako Tamagawa Station
Odaiba Rainbow Fireworks	Every Saturday in December every year	Off Odaiba "Statue of Liberty"	About 1,300 fireworks each day (planned)	Around Odaiba-kaihinkoen Station/Daiba Station/Tokyo Teleport Station

*Please note that there may be traffic restrictions around the venue on the day of the event.

Fireworks festivals in Tokyo are held not only in summer, but also in autumn and winter. In particular, the fantastic fireworks that color the autumn leaves and the night sky are a highlight. For example, "Chofu Fireworks Festival" boasts a history of more than 30 years and you can enjoy powerful fireworks against the backdrop of the Tama River, "Setagaya Ward Tamagawa Fireworks Festival", which is unique to Setagaya in gorgeous and artistic autumn fireworks, and "Odaiba Rainbow Fireworks", where you can enjoy the dynamic colors that spread out in the winter night sky.

Odaiba Rainbow Fireworks

Daiba Rainbow Fireworks is a fireworks festival held in Minato City, Tokyo, which started in 2007. Only 1,300 fireworks are launched each time, which may sound few, but actually, high-density fireworks are launched quickly in a short period of time. The combination of the night view and the fireworks is especially attractive, and you can enjoy the gorgeous sight of the fireworks in addition to the beautiful night view around Odaiba. When the schedule is close to Christmas, it is also combined with music to liven up the Christmas atmosphere and enjoy an extraordinary sight.

💡TIPS

• Less-known viewing spots: Around the Statue of Liberty
• Stall Information: There are no stalls at the Odaiba Fireworks Festival, but the Daiba 1-chome shopping street on the 4th floor of DECKS Tokyo Beach is recommended for its atmosphere.
• Note: Unlike other fireworks festivals, the launch time is a short performance of about 5 minutes.