Japan's Top 3 Fireworks 2026 | Omagari, Nagaoka & Tsuchiura

*This article was created for travelers planning to visit Japan, but readers in Japan may also find it useful.

The National Fireworks Competition held every August as part of the Omagari Fireworks in Daisen City, Akita Prefecture, the Nagaoka Fireworks Festival in Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture, and the Tsuchiura All Japan Fireworks Competition in Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki Prefecture are all essential viewing if you want to see Japanese fireworks.
Accounts of their origins and selection vary, but their long histories and technical excellence earned them the name "Japan's three great fireworks festivals."
Both in scale and in beauty they rank among the country's very best.

The "Omagari Fireworks" held in Omagari, Daisen City, Akita Prefecture, is Japan's most prestigious competitive fireworks festival.
The term refers collectively to the three competitions held in spring, summer, and autumn, with the "National fireworks Games," held annually in late August, a historic event that has been ongoing since 1910.
Additionally, 'Sozo fireworks,' which became the first official competition in Japan in 1964, is synonymous with the 'Fireworks of Omagari' and is internationally acclaimed.

Winning at the summer "National Fireworks Competition" is the highest honor for fireworks teachers. For the audience, it is also a rare opportunity to witness the skills and works honed by fireworks masters from across the country competing in their craft. If you want to see Japan's finest fireworks, you could say Omagari.

The "National Fireworks Competition" is divided into two parts: the "Day fireworks" and the "Evening fireworks" division.
This is the only place in Japan where the 'Daytime fireworks' competition is held. The colors and changes in the smoke are unique highlights of daytime fireworks.

The 'Night fireworks Division' was judged in three categories. The challenge of pursuing perfection in traditional fireworks fireworks freedom fireworks that demands precision and creativity. Both are one-shot 10-ball battles, making it a thrilling moment.
Additionally, the creative fireworks, which expresses the worldview embedded in the fireworks jewel name in 2 minutes and 30 seconds through color, sound, rhythm, and three-dimensionality, is a masterpiece that symbolizes the "Fireworks of Omagari." A key feature is being the first to see this year's new releases.
Then, from the outstanding works in each category of day and night, the overall winner, the Prime Minister's Award, is selected.
The competition reaches its climax with special programs for winners who won the title of "Best fireworks Teacher" the previous year, as well as a grand starmine, music, and themed competition fireworks that will be vibrating.

Omagari Fireworks attracts about 700,000 spectators from both inside and outside Japan every year, so choosing the right seat is crucial.
There are various types, including "table seats" for four people where you can enjoy food and drinks in a group and leisurely watch, and "chair seats" that can be easily used by solo guests.
Online lottery sales usually start around mid-June each year, but the odds are very long and tickets are hard to get.
A recommended option is to use a tour with reserved viewing seats. Not only are you getting tickets for the fierce battles, but you can also secure transportation and accommodation facilities that are difficult to arrange all at once, so you can enjoy your fireworks with peace of mind.

At the 'Food Stalls Village' inside the reserved seating area, you can enjoy Akita-unique dishes and desserts, allowing you to savor gourmet food while enjoying fireworks.

Kiritanpo, with its exquisite combination of fragrant rice and sweet and savory miso, is famous as an ingredient in hot pot dishes, but at festivals, it can be easily enjoyed with one hand. There are various flavors and variations, from simple versions to hearty "pork-wrapped miso tanpo."

This beautifully presented ice cream is piled up like a rose. It's sold along national highways within the prefecture, easily identifiable by its pink parasol. It's a refreshing strawberry and banana flavored ice cream.

■ Event Date and Time
Saturday, August 29, 2026
17:10-18:00 (daytime fireworks) / 19:00-21:30 (evening fireworks)
■ Venue
"Omagari Fireworks" Park (Omono Riverside, Omagari, Daisen City, Akita Prefecture)
■ Access
About a 30-minute walk from JR Omagari Station
■ Parking
Available (paid; reservation required in principle)

The 'Omagari Fireworks,' where Japan's top fireworks masters compete, is a major event visited by about 700,000 people every year.
Tickets are sold by lottery on the official website, but the odds are long, and accommodation facilities are often fully booked around the event before and after the tournament, making individual booking quite challenging.

With Club Tourism tours, you can eliminate all these hassles by providing reserved-seat tickets, round-trip transportation, and accommodation as a set.
Tokyo offers departures from various destinations nationwide, including Osaka, and Nagoya, and a major reassurance is that you can safely return home by dedicated bus late at night after the tournament.
We have received the following feedback from customers who actually participated.

" fireworks conference was truly spectacular and impressive, and the itinerary is definitely worth attending."
"This time, I mainly wanted to join the Omagari Fireworks. Your travel agency happened to provide all the arrangements, so I am very satisfied."

Considering the difficulty of securing tickets, joining a tour is probably the most reliable way to truly experience the "Fireworks of Omagari."

"Nagaoka Fireworks Festival" is held every year on the 2nd and 3rd of August in Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture. Its history dates back to the Nagaoka air raid on August 1, 1945.
To rise from the devastation of air raids, the 'Nagaoka Reconstruction Festival' was held on August 1 of the following year, and every year on August 1st, a pure white 'white chrysanthemum' is launched for memorial service, followed by full-scale fireworks festival on the 2nd and 3rd.

The highlight is the massive wide starmine "Phoenix," stretching 2 km in length that cannot be fully visible in view.
Nagaoka City suffered severe damage in the 2004 Niigata Chuetsu Earthquake. Reconstruction support was received from all over Japan, and in 2005, as a token of gratitude for the support, the recovery prayer fireworks "Phoenix" was launched, marking the beginning of the event.
2026 marks the 20th anniversary since then, and a special version of the launch is scheduled.

The tournament begins with three solemn white chrysanthemums that fill the night sky. It is launched with prayers for war dead and world peace.
The finale, the reconstruction-prayer shell "Phoenix," is about 2 km wide and launched simultaneously from nine locations to match the song.
In recent years, true to its name, recent editions have included a sequence in which the shells trace a phoenix beating its wings. While following tradition, the "Phoenix" production evolves every year. It is a very popular program.

The Nagaoka festival has two sites: Venue A on the right bank of the river and Venue B on the left. There are many seat types, but the most popular are Venue A's "Phoenix chair seats," which put you close to the Phoenix, and Venue A's "sanshakudama chair seats," for the 36-inch shells.
Online lottery sales open as follows.
First lottery: May 25, 12:00
Second lottery: June 18, 12:00
Lottery for residents outside Japan: May 25, 12:00

The merchandise tents inside the Nagaoka venue carry all the classics of a Japanese summer festival, but the local specialties are worth seeking out too. Here are our picks from the stalls and the shops around Nagaoka Station.

This local specialty originated in Niigata Prefecture and features a unique style of yakisoba (fried noodles) topped with tomato sauce.
It contains lots of vegetables such as bean sprouts and cabbage.

This soba noodle is characterized by its smooth texture and firm bite, achieved by using "funori" seaweed as a binder.
It's recommended to dip the noodles generously in cold soba dipping sauce and enjoy them with chopped green onions as a garnish.

■ Event Date and Time
Sunday, August 2 and Monday, August 3, 2026
(2025 reference) 19:20-21:10
■ Venue
Shinano riverbed downstream of Chosei Bridge, Nagaoka City, Niigata 940-0000
■ Access
About a 30-minute walk from JR Nagaoka Station
■ Parking
Available (paid)

Nagaoka Fireworks Festival is known for its overwhelming scale, including the 2-kilometer-long 'Phoenix' that colors the night sky.
Club Tourism serves as the official sponsor of the tournament and consistently secures a certain number of premium seats every year.
The reserved seating arranged by Club Tourism is located in the central area near the fireworks launch site, allowing you to enjoy the powerful fireworks from the front without looking from the side or from afar.

Additionally, a variety of courses are available for departures from all over Japan, including Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, and Kanagawa. After the event, you don't need to worry about transportation back. You can leave the venue without crowds by private bus and head to your accommodation with peace of mind.
Here are some feedback from participating customers.

"The seats on the fireworks tour offer excellent views—an unforgettable journey in my life."
"A must-see for fireworks festivals, and the group area is spacious enough to enjoy up close."
"The Nagaoka Fireworks Festival is truly worth visiting, and with tour groups handling transportation, tickets, seats, and accommodation, everything was so easy!"
「Significantly save my time to schedule everything for the firework event.」
「The Nagaoka fireworks was spectacular. Worth the long journey to and fro Sendai station.」
"I joined here for Nagaoka fireworks, which is very convenient and reassuring for overseas travelers."
"For those unfamiliar, this is a huge luck. For such a large event, you have to buy tickets, book, accommodation, and get transportation, which is extremely difficult. Plus, our location for the fireworks was fantastic! With the guide's guidance, you never have to worry about getting lost!"

The "Tsuchiura All Japan Fireworks Competition" held in Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki Prefecture, is usually held in November each year. Its history is long, beginning in 1925 with the fireworks festival held in response to the recession following the Kanto Great Earthquake.
About 20,000 fireworks, showcasing the finest techniques of Japanese fireworks masters, are displayed, but the highlight is undoubtedly the high level of starmine. The diverse variety, combining hundreds of diverse fireworks and launching at perfect timing, is truly breathtaking.
In the No. 10 ball category, enjoy chrysanthemum-shaped fireworks and multi-core techniques, while in the Creative fireworks section, enjoy new technologies like creativity and original ideas.

The Tsuchiura All Japan Fireworks Competition is run in three categories: starmine, 10-inch shells and creative fireworks. It is often called the contest that decides Japan's best starmine. Each entrant lays out mortars in a 40-meter section in their own arrangement and competes on launching 2.5- to 4-inch shells.
In the creative category, seven 5-inch shells are fired to trace numbers, letters and popular characters across the night sky — a competition that captivates children and adults alike.

The Tsuchiura competition offers reserved mat seating (full mat, half mat and table seats) and chair seats (A, B and C).
Online lottery sales run from 10:00 on August 12 to 23:59 on September 7. The odds are long, and because tickets are mailed, they are hard to obtain unless you live in Japan. If you want to be sure of a seat, a tour is the way to go.

Japanese street food stalls line up, including yakisoba, takoyaki, okonomiyaki, candy apples, and baby castella. Among them, the gourmet dishes made with Tsuchiura 's specialty ingredients are not to be missed.

Tsuchiura is one of Japan's leading lotus root producers. You'll find it prepared many ways, including tempura, stuffed and deep-fried, and as sweet-and-spicy chips.

You can enjoy the bounty of Lake Kasumigaura, such as salt-grilled sweetfish and smelt, as well as fried or skewered fish.

■ Event Date and Time
Saturday, November 7, 2026
17:30-20:00
■ Venue
285 Sanoko, Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki 300-0803
■ Access
About a 30-minute walk from JR Tsuchiura Station
■ Parking
Available (paid)

The Tsuchiura All Japan Fireworks Competition is a contest held in November, when the air is at its clearest.
Unlike a summer festival, shells launched into cool autumn air stand out for their vivid color and crisp outlines.
A Club Tourism tour guarantees you a reserved mat seat or chair seat.

After the tournament, it becomes late at night, so you may not be able to get home on nearby trains.
On a tour, a dedicated bus takes you safely to Tokyo and Tsukuba by dedicated bus, so you can fully enjoy the last fireworks without worrying about the last train.
Here are some feedback from participating customers.

"Shuttle bus watching the fireworks is really convenient and relaxing."
"The guide was enthusiastic, carefully arranged, and proactively helped find seats. The fireworks location was fantastic."
"This tour is very difficult for foreigners to arrange on their own, but it was truly wonderful that it included fireworks tickets, transportation, and meals. Even if I couldn't Japanese it, the guide was very kind and attentive."
"Thank you, Mr. Wang, for your enthusiastic introduction to Japanese scenery and for guiding us to our destination all the way. We were worried about not finding the tour bus on the way back, but Mr. Wang personally came to our seating area to help us board. We really appreciate his service. Next time, I will definitely recommend friends to join your company's events."

On all three tournaments—" Omagari Fireworks 2026," "Nagaoka Fireworks Festival 2026," and "Tsuchiura All Japan Fireworks Competition 2026," trains and roads will experience severe congestion from around 3 p.m. on the day.
When joining, it's best to plan the day considering the crowd conditions on site. Here, we will also introduce the crowd trends for each of the three tournaments.

To ease congestion, trains run with additional trains scheduled. If you are driving, traffic jams occur around National Routes 13 and 105 and Omagari IC from noon until around 2 to 3 a.m.

The area around the venue is extremely crowded on the bridge. Even places that normally take 15~20 minutes on foot from JR Nagaoka Station to the venue can take up to 30 minutes. If you come by car, the Nagaoka I.C becomes crowded around 11:00, and the 17:00~18:00 hour is the most congested time.

JR Tsuchiura Station gets crowded enough that people can be pushed off balance. By car, congestion starts in the morning and peaks around 3 p.m.

A tip that applies to all three tournaments is to arrive at the venue around lunchtime if you are participating individually.
Furthermore, after the event ends, a large crowd is expected as spectators will move all at once. It is necessary to plan your movements to avoid congestion, such as leaving during the finale or heading home 1-2 hours after it ends.
If you're worried about crowds, we recommend a tour where you can leave the day's itinerary, including the timing of your arrival and departure, to the tour company.

In areas near the fireworks festival venue, most hotels can be fully booked by the 2~ April period. If you are arranging for yourself, you need to plan ahead and make your reservation early.

The nearest station to the venue is JR Akita Shinkansen, Tazawako Line, and Ou Main Line 'Omagari Station.' In the accommodation area, the area around Omagari Station and the areas around Yokote Station and Kakunodate Station, which are about 20~30 minutes away by train, are the best places to target. Recommended spots include Tazawako Station, two stops from Omagari Station, and Yukawa Onsen, located in Akita city and on the border between Akita and Iwate prefectures.

The nearest station is JR Joetsu Shinkansen, Joetsu Line, and Shinetsu Main Line 'Nagaoka Station.' Recommended areas to stay are Niigata Station and Echigo-Yuzawa Station, which can be reached in about 20 minutes by Shinkansen. At Echigo-Yuzawa Station, you can also enjoy hot springs and sightseeing. The area around Mitsuke Station on the Shinetsu Main Line is also recommended.

The nearest station is JR Joban Line 'Tsuchiura Station.' You can travel to Tokyo Ueno without transfers, so you can use Tokyo as your base.

About the Tour
Q: Can children and seniors participate?
A: Yes. People of all ages can participate. Since you travel by bus during the tour, you won't walk for long. We warmly welcome children and seniors to join us.

About Meeting and Departure
Q: After booking, how can I check the meeting point and time?
A: After booking, you can check "Meeting point," "meeting time," and "emergency contact" on My Page. Before departure, you can also view "travel booklet Travel Guide" online.

About luggage
Q: Can I bring my suitcase to participate?
A: If you are traveling by bus, we have space for luggage, so you can bring your suitcase. However, please limit yourself to two large suitcases per person.

Language support
Q: Can I participate even if I don't speak Japanese?
A: Yes, you can. The tour is operated in Japanese, but important information is available in English and Chinese (Traditional) using AI translation equipment and written information. A tour conductors and drivers also use translation apps, so there is no need to worry about the language.

About payment
Q: What is the payment method? What is the currency?
A: Payment is made online in Japanese yen (credit card). The exchange rate is subject to the rules of the credit card company. Instant payment is required at the time of booking.

About local support
Q: Do you have physical stores in Taiwan or overseas?
A: In Taiwan, KNT Taiwan is the sole distributor of Club Tourism. For on-site consultations, please contact KNT Taiwan.

Passengers in Taiwan, please contact "Taiwan General Agent, Taiwan Kansai International Travel Agency" to register.
Online Registration https://www.knt-taiwan.com/contact.php
Call to register 02-87717551 (Mon~Fri 09:15~18:00 (excluding holidays))
Email info@knt-taiwan.com

With their long histories and their showcase of Japanese craft and artistry, the three great fireworks festivals draw crowds from Japan and abroad alike. That also makes securing a seat and getting around the crowds genuinely difficult. A tour with seats and transport arranged in advance is the surest way to enjoy the show.