What is Tokyo fireworks festival (Hanabi)?
Japan is one of the cleanest countries in the world. Its air is also fresh. But it has only four seasons, and every season has different extraordinary events. If you plan to visit Tokyo, visit in Summer, during the Tokyo fireworks festival (Hanabi) to enjoy the fantastic fireworks festival, Yukata, and Cherry blossom festival.
Tokyo fireworks festival is one of the most famous festivals among the Japanese. It is held in the evening, so it does not take a day off from duty.
Most importantly, it is one of Tokyo’s freest days because everyone is free to drink in open-space around the fireworks festival venue. The roads are open for people, and vehicles are blocked a few hours surrounding the festival venue to ensure that people can enjoy the festival.
Firework means a festive moment in Japan. Tokyo looks different during the fireworks seasons every year.
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History of Tokyo Fireworks Festival:
Every festival has a history. Tokyo fireworks festival is also no exception. According to history, fireworks started in the sixteen century in Japan.
However, in 1733, the fireworks festival turned into a memorial service for starvation and plague victims; it was held first in Tokyo (Edo) on the Sumida River. The firework’s name was ‘Ryogoku River-Opening Fireworks,’ in Japanese ‘Ryogoku Kawabiraki Hanabi.’
Most importantly, in 1733, where the Ryogoku River-Opening Fireworks held was the Sumida River fireworks festival 2nd Venue, which is the biggest fireworks festival among the Tokyo Fireworks festivals.
Some Tokyo’s fireworks festivals:
Tokyo is a large city, and it has 23 Special Wards, 26 cities, 4 sub-prefectures, and 1 district. Many of the wards and cities hold fireworks in Summer.
However, the Tokyo fireworks festival is not the only one. There are several fireworks festivals in Tokyo. Some of these festivals are big, and some of the festivals are small, and some are outside of Tokyo’s 23 Special Wards.
I am putting some of the significant Tokyo firework festivals below:
Big Fireworks festivals:
1.Sumida River fireworks festival
2.Adachi Fireworks Festival
3.Katsushika Noryo Fireworks Festival
4.Edogawa Fireworks Festival
Middle and small fireworks festivals:
5.Itabashi Fireworks Festival
6.Tokyo Bay Fireworks Festival
7.Jingugaien Fireworks Festival
Small Fireworks festivals:
8.Tamagawa Fireworks Festival
9.Koto Fireworks Festival
Small Fireworks festivals:
8.Tamagawa Fireworks Festival
9.Koto Fireworks Festival
Outside of Special Wards:
10.Showa Kinen Park Fireworks Festival
11.Ome City Fireworks Festival
12.Chofu City Fireworks Festival
Big fireworks in Special Wards:
1.Sumida River fireworks festival:
Date: Last Saturday in July
Time: 19:00-20:30
Fireworks: About 20,000
Locations: Sumida River, Sumida Special Ward
Venue 1.
Between Sakura Bridge and Kototoi Bridge
8 minutes walk from Asakusa Station & Tobu Asakusa Station
Venue 2.
Between Komagata Bridge & Umaya Bridge
3 minutes from Kuramae Station
Sumida river fireworks festival is launched from two separate locations, the first location Sakura Bridge, between Sensoji Temple in Taito City and Tokyo Skytree in the Sumida City.
However, the second location is between these two cities near Komagota Bride, five minutes from the first location. This 2nd venue is the historical location from where the fireworks festival originated in Japan.
First venue and 2nd venue both hold fireworks on the same day together and people can enjoy these fireworks from one place without moving—that is why more than one million people gather in the area to enjoy it every year.
Besides, those who live near the area, Sumida Special Ward and Taito Special Ward, can enjoy it from their home.
2. Adachi Fireworks Festival:
Date: July 20
Time: 19:30-20:30
Fireworks: About 13,600
Locations: Arakawa River, Adachi Special Ward
venue: Between Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line Tekkyo Bridge & Nishiaraibashi Bridge
Nearest Station: Kita-Senju
Train Line: Tobu Skytree Line, Tsukuba Express
15 minutes walk from station to venue
Adachi fireworks festival is one of the big fireworks festivals in Tokyo. The festival is held in the Arakawa River, and the river banks can hold lots of people.
Besides, people enjoy sitting on the banks of the river and enjoy Hanabi. More than 600,000 people gather during the festival.
3.Katsushika Fireworks Festival:
Date: July 23
Time: 19:20-20:20
Fireworks: About 13,000
Locations venue: Shibamata Baseball Ground, Katsushika Special Ward
Nearest Station: Shibamata Station
Train Line: Keisei Kanamachi Line
10 minutes walk from station to venue
Concerning the Tokyo fireworks festival, the Katsushika Special Ward plays a significant role. The festival is held on the baseball ground, and people can enjoy it sitting on the grassy ground.
Besides, the authorities shut down vehicles in the surrounding for the public to fully enjoy the festival. More than 1.5 million people come here to enjoy the festival.
4.Edogawa Fireworks Festival:
Date: August 3
Time: 19:15-20:30
Fireworks: About 14,000
Locations venue: Edogawa River riverbank, Edogawa Special Ward
Nearest Station: Shinozaki Station & Koiwa Station & Edogawa Station
Train Line: Toei Shinjuku Line, Chūō-Sōbu Line & Keisei Main Line
15 minutes walk from Shinozaki station, 25 minutes walk from Koiwa Station to venue
Edogawa Fireworks Festival is the 2nd biggest festival where more than 14,000 fireworks are launched. People love going to the Tokyo fireworks festival every year.
Can you imagine 14,000 fireworks will blast in the sky within 75-minutes in front of your eyes, and what will be your feelings?
Middle fireworks festivals:
5.Itabashi Fireworks Festival:
Date: August 3
Time: 19:00-20:30
Fireworks: About 12,000
Locations venue: Arakawa River, Itabashi Special Ward
Nearest Station: Takashimadaira Station, Nishidai Station, Hatsune Station, Ukima-Funado Station
Train Line: Saikyō Line, Toei Mita Line
20 minutes walk from station to venue
15 minutes bus ride from the Tobu-Nerima station
Do you want to see Niagara at the Tokyo fireworks festival?
The Niagara Falls type explosion stretches 700 meters. The explosions cheer spectators.
Do not miss the Itabashi fireworks festival.
6.Tokyo Bay Fireworks Festival:
Date: 2nd Saturday of August
Time: 18:50-20:10
Fireworks: About 12,000
Locations venue: 5 Harumi, Chuo Special Ward
Nearest Station:
Harumi-Futo
Kachidoki Station subway station (E17)
Shijō-mae Station subway station (U14)
Train Line: Toei Oedo Line & Yurikamome Line
Do you want to see the Tokyo fireworks festival? Then I encourage you to see the Tokyo Bay fireworks festival.
You do not need a booking seat to enjoy the festival because it is a vast area and people can enjoy it from far. Most people rather enjoy more from the sea-banks.
However, if you wish to sit and enjoy, make a booking in advance.
7. Jingugaien Fireworks Festival:
Date: August 10
Time: 19:30-20:30
Fireworks: About 12,000
Locations venue: Meiji Jingu Stadium, Shinjuku Special Ward
Nearest Station:
1) Subway:
Gaiemmae Station: Tokyo Metro Ginza Line(G03)
5 minutes walk (Exit 3)
Kokuritsu-Kyogijo Station: Toei Subway Oedo Line(E25)
12 minutes walk ( Exit A2)
2) JR:
JR Shinanomachi Station：12 minutes walk
JR Sendagaya Station: 15 minutes walk
There is a unique way to enjoy fireworks here. You can book tickets in Jingu Stadium, Chichibunomiya Rugby Field, and Jingu Secondary Stadium. Tickets price 2,500-7000 Yen, depending on where you want to book your seats.
However, people can enjoy the festival from the surroundings, parks, and streets.
Small fireworks festivals:
8.Tamagawa Fireworks Festival:
Date: October 5
Time: 18:00-19:00
Fireworks: About 6,000
Locations venue: Tamagawafutagobashi Park, Tamagawa, Setagaya Special Ward
Nearest Station: Futakotamagawa Station
Train Line: Denentoshi Line
12 minutes walk from station to venue
This fireworks festival is small. But still, many people gather to enjoy the festival. Futakotamagawa is one of the Setagaya Special Ward districts, located in the Tama river’s northern bank.
The Tamagawa fireworks festival is very famous. People usually go earlier to keep the excellent spots.
9.Koto Fireworks Festival:
Date: August 1st
Time: 19:30-20:30
Fireworks: About 4,000
Locations venue: Sunamachi Mizube Park, Koto Special Ward
Nearest Station: Minami-Sunamachi Station, Koto Ward
Train Line: Tozai Line
12 minutes walk from station to venue
Sunamachi Mizube (Riverside) Park is a beautiful park, and people can enjoy the festival comfortably. At the same time, it is held on the weekday, and many people do not want to go. As a result, many people cannot go there to enjoy the festival.
Outside of Special Wards:
10. Showa Kinen Park Fireworks Festival:
Date: July 27
Time: 19:00-20:00
Fireworks: About 5,000
Locations venue: Showa Kinen Park, Tachikawa City
Nearest Station:
1) Nishi-Tachikawa Station
JR Ome Line: 2 minutes
2)Tachikawa Station
Tama City Monorail: 8 minutes
JR Chuo Line: 10 minutes
This firework festival is held in Showa Kinen Park. It is a beautiful park with vast space. People usually arrive there a few hours before the festival to see around.
However, the enjoyment of the Showa Kinen Park Fireworks Festival is different from others. The park has many facilities such as trains for kids, rental cycle and cycling trails, boats, waterfalls, coffee shops, restaurants.
Somehow if you miss the chance of attending other fireworks festivals, I recommend joining this firework festival.
11. Ome City Fireworks Festival:
Date: August 3
Time: 19:15-20:15
Fireworks: About 4,000
Locations venue: Nagayama Park, Ome City
Nearest Station: JR Ome Station
Train Line: JR Ome Line
10 minutes walk from station to venue
The Ome City also holds fireworks in August at Nagayama park. It has seat reserve systems and per seat rate from 1,000-6,000 Yen. The seats are on Japanese Tatami.
Have you ever enjoy fireworks from Tatami? You can try to enjoy the Tokyo fireworks festival from Tatami.
12. Chofu City Fireworks Festival:
Date: September 7
Time: 18:30-19:30
Fireworks: About 10,000
Locations venue: Tamagawa Ryokuchi Park, Chofu City
Nearest Station: Keio Tamagawa Station
Train Line: Keisei Keio Line
5 minutes walk from station to venue
The fireworks festival is held in the Bank of Tamagawa or Tama river near the Keio Sagamihara Line bridge.
Other Tokyo Fireworks Festivals:
Besides these Tokyo fireworks festivals, some cities hold some small festivals. Hachioji Fireworks Festival is worth mentioning here.
It is a small fireworks festival, and fireworks are about 3,500 only. However, if you visit Tokyo during the firework festival, then it is worth visiting.
Hachioji Fireworks Festival:
Date: July 27
Time: 19:00-20:30
Fireworks: About 3,500
Locations venue: Fujimori Park, Hachioji City
Nearest Station: Nishi-Hachioji Station
Train Line: Chūō Line
12 minutes walk from station to venue
Best spots Enjoying Tokyo Fireworks Festivals:
However, if you miss the venues, you can still enjoy the fireworks over Tokyo Bay from a wide area.
Besides, you can see fireworks from Ariake bridge, Shiokaze Park in Shinagawa Ward, Takeshiba Pier Park, and Shinagawa Pier Park.
You can also enjoy fireworks from Lalaport Toyosu.
The most beautiful spots to enjoy Tokyo’s fireworks are Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Sky Tree, and Roppongi Hills. It depends on where you want to join but don’t forget to secure a place in advance. These spots are booked in advance.
Besides, you can see fireworks from the night excursion cruise on the Sumida River, Tamagawa River, Edogawa River, and Tokyo Bay. You can check available bookings for fireworks beforehand.
Plan your trip during the Tokyo fireworks festival and get tremendous joy about fireworks in Japan.
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