Every year, over 700,000 fireworks fans flock to Akita Prefecture’s Daisen City for one of the most renowned fireworks festivals in the country. Join thousands of other attendees as you marvel at the best that Japanese fireworks companies have to offer.
Fireworks have a long history in Akita. Textual and visual evidence from the early 19th century depicts locals attending displays around the Maruko River.
The Omagari Fireworks Festival has roots in a 1910 competition organized by Suwa Shrine. At this event, fireworks producers from around the Tohoku area gathered to showcase their products and performances. This marked the beginning of the national fireworks competition that we know today. The winner takes home the coveted Prime Minister’s Prize.
Omagari Fireworks Festival
Photo by: PIXTA/ 花火 A sky full of fireworks.
The start of the festival features a daytime fireworks show. Rather than the explosive multicolored bursts typical of most fireworks shows, this one in the late afternoon includes colored smoke launched into the air. Set against the fading sunlight, this show offers a nice contrast to the fiery spectacle to come.
The main event pits competitors against each other. As one of Japan’s top fireworks competitions, some of the best pyrotechnics companies in the country gravitate to Akita. Pyrotechnicians from Tokyo and 11 other prefectures will put on displays showcasing their advanced and unique performances. In between performers, the audience will be able to watch the festival’s first-ever drone show featuring more than 1,500 drones. One of the highlights of the show will be “The Greatest Show” which uses 2,000 fireworks in five minutes for an exhilarating barrage of light and sound.
The Best Viewing Spots
Photo by: PIXTA/ aouei Grab a seat while you can!
While you can enjoy the festival for free, the most common site for attendees (Omono Riverside Ryokuchi Athletic Park) gets crowded very quickly. If you would like to try to secure a decent seat here, you should arrive several hours in advance.
Paid seating is in front of the Omono River and between the Himegami and Omagari Hanabi Bridges. The area on the riverbank is into 11 separate blocks with a variety of seating types. Tables and VIP sections are clustered near the center, while the wings feature folding chairs, benches for pairs and tarps lying on the ground. At the back of the viewing area is a section for professional photography and benches organized on an inclined bank.
