Written by Jane Pipkin
Watch the sky light up with 15,000 fireworks at this year’s Sanriku Fireworks Festival in Iwate Prefecture.
What happens?
The festival comes twice a year: once in spring and once in autumn, where it becomes a head-to-head fireworks competition. The spring edition is a one-night-and-day-only extravaganza that includes traditional performances and food stalls. Festivities last all day, from midday to 9 p.m., but the fireworks will go off from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Tickets
All seats are ticketed, which means you are guaranteed entry, unlike other fireworks festivals around Japan. Seats start at ¥3,200 for unreserved seating and go up from there. If you’re feeling fancy, you can even reserve a seat with a kotatsu (a heated table with a blanket).
How to get there
The show will be held at Takadamatsubara Sports Park. It is under a 10-minute walk from Kiseki No Ippommatsu Station on the Ofunato Line. Buses are also available from Sendai Station.
Organizers may cancel events, alter schedules, or change admission requirements without notice. Always check official sites before heading to an event.
