The Kanmon Straits Fireworks Festival is hosted by Kitakyushu City in Fukuoka Prefecture and Shimonoseki City in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Regardless of which side you view the show, you’re in for a unique experience under an umbrella of 15,000 fireworks.
Festival History
Photo by: PIXTA/かっさ～ See one of the best night views in Japan in a whole new light!
The Kanmon Straits Fireworks Festival originated in 1985 as a solo fireworks festival hosted by Shimonoseki. The display’s original purpose was to coincide with obon (a Japanese holiday dedicated to remembering one’s ancestors).
Since 1988, the festival has been co-hosted by the cities lying on either side of the Kanmon Straits, the body of water separating Kyushu from Honshu. Each side is responsible for its own performance, and the opening ceremonies are conducted by either Kitakyushu City or Shimonoseki, who alternate duties every year. More than a million spectators converge on the straits from both directions.
Kanmon Straits Fireworks Festival
Photo by: PIXTA/ram87 The view from the top of Shimonoseki’s Kaikyo Yume Tower.
Following the opening ceremonies, there are two halves of the festival separated by an intermission featuring a drone performance. Each side offers its own style of fireworks. The Shimonoseki side, for instance, features underwater fireworks and a volley of 40 consecutive No.10 fireworks, which explode at a height of 450 meters and produce a blast of 280 meters in diameter. Not to be outdone, the Mojiko side also launches about 120 large fireworks in a row to cap off their performance.
The Best Viewing Spots
Photo by: PIXTA/grandspy If you’re lucky, you can find a quiet spot to enjoy the show in peace
Kitakyushu City has one of the three best night views in the country. The Moji Retro district and Kanmonkyo Bridge are illuminated by the colorful fireworks exploding above.
There are no free admission sections, so be sure to purchase your tickets in advance to secure a spot.
If you’re hoping to catch a glimpse of the show without paying to enter, there are a few options. On the Fukuoka side, head to Mojiko Pier. On the Shimonoseki side, head over to Hinoyama Park at the top of Mount Hinoyama. This is one of the best places to observe the straits and makes for a great view of the festival.
