8 best fireworks festivals in and near Tokyo: May-August 2026

Star Island – a ‘cutting-edge entertainment experience that reimagines the traditional fireworks show for the 21st century’ – returns to Tokyo bigger than ever before, lighting up Odaiba Marine Park on May 23 with 12,000 fireworks and 800 drones. Combining fireworks, lasers, drones, live performances and immersive 3D sound, the multi-sensory spectacle is set against the dramatic backdrop of Tokyo’s skyline.

Since its debut in 2017, Star Island has been wowing audiences around the world, including in Singapore and Saudi Arabia. The show is the brainchild of a diverse team of Japanese creatives – all fireworks lovers and pioneers in their respective fields – who have come together to create a spectacular production where synchronised dance and other performances unfold on stages below as fireworks illuminate the night sky from start to finish.

Tickets for these shows are now on sale, with options including group admission.

This popular fireworks festival along the banks of the Arakawa River is back this year for another spectacle. The history of this annual affair goes back to 1924, and this year 13,000 fireworks will be set off during the hour-long event on May 30.

Being pushed forward to early summer to lower the risk of heatstroke and cancellations due to severe weather, the event lets you enjoy the fireworks from either the Nishi-Arai or Senju side of the Arakawa between Nishi-Arai and Senjushinbashi bridges. There are several parks along the banks, where you can set up a picnic to watch the show, including the Arakawa Nishiarai Bridge Green Space.

The event was cancelled in 2025 and 2024 due to inclement weather. Keep an eye on the website for the latest information before visiting.

Tokyo Racecourse in Fuchu is hosting a dazzling fireworks show on July 1, with 14,000 rockets to be launched during the hour-long event. Now in its fifth year, this music-themed display will revolve around the best hits of Shogo Hamada, a legendary Japanese rock singer and solo star known for his distinct folk-rock sound and signature sunglasses.

Celebrating 50 years since his solo debut, expect to see fireworks exploding in sync to the nostalgic tunes Kanashimi wa Yuki no Youni, Rojiura no Shounen and more. The stadium opens at 5pm, and the main fireworks display will start at 7.30pm.

Tickets for premium seating and premium group seats are selling out fast, so check the website for ticket details.

Held every year for more than half a century along the Edogawa River, Katsushika's popular fireworks festival, taking place on July 28, is known for the unusually short distance between the launch site and the spectator area. This allows visitors to watch, hear and feel the impact of the around 20,000 fireworks up close.

It also features the spectacular 'Niagara Falls' and 'Digital Star Mine' crackers, both supposedly representing the latest in firework technology. On your way to the river, take a stroll along the picturesque street leading from Taishakuten Temple for a glimpse of what summer in Edo – the former name of Tokyo – might have felt like.

Tokyo's biggest fireworks display is returning this summer on July 25. The Sumida River Fireworks Festival is also Japan's oldest fireworks event, dating back to 1733, when it was staged as part of a ceremony to pray for victims of a severe famine the previous year. It turned into an annual event in 1978 and attracts close to a million people every year.

This year, the Sumida River Fireworks Festival starts at 7pm and will run for around 90 minutes, with a staggering 20,000 shells of fireworks. The fireworks are launched from two sites on the Sumida River around Asakusa Station: one between Umaya Bridge and Komagata Bridge and the other between Kototoi Bridge and Sakurabashi Bridge. You can check out the locations on the festival website.

It may not be the biggest of Tokyo's many fireworks events, but Tachikawa's hanabi is certainly one of the more comfortable ones. Held at the spacious Showa Kinen Park, the festival always draws massive crowds, so make sure to arrive early to secure the best viewing spot.

This year’s event on July 25 will see around 5,000 shells of fireworks launched during the hour-long show from 7.15pm to 8.15pm. Paid seating with the best views will be sold online on a first-come, first-served basis (2026 reservation details have not been released yet). 

On the day of the fireworks display, the park will open to the public free of charge.

The event may be cancelled in the event of severe weather.

This fireworks festival at Fujimori Park in Hachioji is returning this year on August 1 from 7pm. It’s a relatively small affair compared to other similar festivals in Tokyo, with around 4,000 rockets expected to be launched. However, what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for with an interesting array of explosions – including regular and wide starmines.

The hour-long pyrotechnic show is free and you can watch the fireworks from several areas in the park – including the Fujimori Gymnasium parking lot and Hachioji Veterans Memorial Tower Square.

More details on the event website.

From this year, premium seating with the best views will also be available through private donations. Further details will be announced in June.