Fireworks are one of the most popular summer traditions in Japan!
Do you know how Japanese people enjoy fireworks?

We will introduce Japanese summer culture along with information on fireworks displays in the Kansai region.

This is how Japanese people enjoy fireworks!

In other countries, fireworks are often shot off at New Year’s Eve events.
In Japan, they are said to have taken root in the summer time to avoid the sweltering heat of summer days and to enjoy the cooler weather.

At fireworks festivals held in various locations, many people are seen wearing yukata, a traditional Japanese summer garment, to enjoy the once-a-year event.
The yukata is usually worn with geta (Japanese wooden clogs) and an uchiwa (Japanese fan) or fan for relief from the heat.

Food stalls are often set up in the vicinity of the fireworks display, and these stalls are also a source of enjoyment.
In addition to takoyaki, yakitori, cotton candy, shaved ice, and other gourmet food stalls, there are also yo-yo scooping, target shooting, and other game stalls that are very lively.

Another popular way to enjoy summer evenings is to set off handheld fireworks in your own yard or at a park.
Especially popular are sparklers. It is a traditional Japanese handheld firework that burns dramatically from the moment it is characterized by the dramatic way it burns from the moment it is lit to the moment it extinguishes. They are beautiful and stir the senses.

Japanese fireworks are among the most delicate and beautiful in the world!

Fireworks are popular all over the world, but Japanese fireworks are said to be particularly delicate and artistic.

They have a beautiful spherical shape that never goes out of shape, colors that change midway, and the graceful way they all light up and disappear at the same time. The elaborate and gorgeous fireworks, which pyrotechnists have studied and improved over the years with their craftsmen’s souls, show the aesthetic sense of the Japanese people.

But you can’t appreciate the splendor of the fireworks until you actually see them!
The following is a list of fireworks displays held in the Kansai region, so please come and see the world-class Japanese fireworks with your own eyes!

[Hyogo] The 46th Ashiya Summer Carnival

Ashiya City General Park facing the sea is the main venue for this event, which is run mainly by Ashiya citizens. Stage performances are held, fair stalls are set up, and the place is bustling from the noon time.
This year, the fireworks are even more powerful! A cutting-edge entertainment with flames, fireworks, and music will be presented for about 45 minutes.

Entry to the fireworks show is available only to holders of sponsor bleacher tickets or civic plaza admission tickets.
There are six types of sponsor bleacher tickets, including arena seats in the front row, bleacher seats with chairs for comfortable viewing, and sandy beach admission tickets.

[Osaka] Tenjin Festival Dedication Fireworks

If you want to experience the mood of a Japanese festival, the dedicated fireworks of Tenjin Matsuri is recommended!

Tenjin Matsuri, one of the three major festivals in Japan, has a history of more than 1,000 years. The Tenjin Matsuri ends with a dedication fireworks display. Approximately 3,000 fireworks are launched as a dedication to the gods.
About 100 boats, including boats decorated with traditional dolls on the bow and boats with bonfires lit, come and go along the Okawa River, the site of the festival. The fireworks shining in the sky and the lively river are a picturesque sight!
If you visit Japan, this is a festival you must see at least once.

[Osaka] The 36th Naniwa Yodogawa Fireworks Festival

This fireworks display is held on the Yodogawa River, which flows through the center of Osaka. Many people look forward to this handmade fireworks display every year with the help of about 2,000 local volunteer staff.

In 2024, various fireworks will be launched in five scenes under the theme of “~RISE~ to the world with your feelings in fireworks soaring high in the sky.
In the grand finale, fireworks of overwhelming volume and grand scale will fill the sky.

If you want to view the fireworks in a relaxed atmosphere, paid seats are recommended. Due to road construction, free viewing is not available on the embankment on the Umeda side, and large crowds are expected along the embankment on the Hankyu Juso Station side.

[Osaka, Hyogo] The 76th Inagawa Fireworks Festival

About 4,000 fireworks will light up the night sky on the banks of the Inagawa River, near Osaka International Airport.
We recommend that you visit the Cupnoodles Museum Osaka Ikeda, a very popular tourist spot located near the event site, during the daytime and watch the fireworks at night.

[Hyogo] Minato HANABI 5 Days of Colorful Kobe

In Japan, fireworks displays are usually held in the summer, but there are also fireworks displays held in the fall.

The “Minato Hanabi – 5 Days of Colorful Kobe” is a fireworks display held for the first time last year at Meriken Park, a tourist attraction in Kobe. The fireworks display against the backdrop of the night view of the port city creates a romantic atmosphere.

Fireworks festivals are precious events packed with Japanese life and Japanese culture!
Please visit Kansai to experience the entire festival atmosphere.