An incredible 760,000 spectators are expected for one of the Tohoku region’s biggest fireworks festival. To put that in some perspective, the total population of Akita Prefecture is less than 1.1 million people.

The reason is because this “hanabi taikai” is not just a little local affair – it’s a national contest. Fireworks teams from throughout the country compete with each other to put on the best show.

The venue for the fireworks is a 30 minute walk from Omagari Station. However, given the remote location and possible transport issues, we’d recommend going by car or bus. There are 8,600 parking spaces available although that’s at the main venue at which (pre-sold only) spectator tickets are quite pricey.