Hakuba Happo One isn’t just a destination to enjoy snow sports in winter. This month, it’s hosting an event that’s said to be Japan’s highest altitude fireworks, with rockets launched at 1,400 metres above sea level.
Set for Saturday September 30, Usagidaira Night Festa will be held at the summit of Usaigidaira mountain. There will be plenty of activities and food trucks, so you can easily spend an entire evening there.
Hop on the night gondola that is running exclusively for this event between 4.30pm to 8pm to get to the top. The event is free, so you only need to purchase a round-trip gondola ticket, which costs ¥2,200 for adults and ¥1,320 for children.
You can enjoy hula dancing by Pumehana (5pm), groovy live music by local band Swell (5.30pm), and fire performances by Firebandit (6.30pm), while filling up on local cuisine until 7pm.
The night will culminate with 200 shells of fireworks getting shot up 1,400 metres in the air from 7.10pm to 7.25pm. You might want to bring a picnic mat to sit on the ground since it might be wet due to the atmospheric condensation.
For the best views of the fireworks, consider parking yourself at Mountain Beach Terrace. A seat at the terrace will set you back ¥2,000, and there are only 30 spots available. So book ahead.
On that night, you can expect a bonfire at the Usagidaira Open Terrace. You can also see the fireworks from this area while sipping on a few drinks.
Visit the Happo One website for more information.
This article was originally published on September 9 2022 and updated on September 7 2023.
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