The Nagaoka Festival Grand Fireworks Show is considered to be one of Japan’s three great fireworks festivals. Over the course of two days 20,000 fireworks are launched into the skies and the festival is visited by more than 1 million people each year, making it without a doubt one of the most popular fireworks festivals in the country. Taking place on the banks of the Shinanogawa River, Japan’s longest river, enormous fireworks that expand beyond your frame of vision fill the night sky. In the vicinity of Chosei Bridge the great sound of the fireworks being fired upwards reverberates throughout your entire body, further adding to the excitement and awe. This is a popular festival that people often say you “should see at least once in your life.”

The Nagaoka Festival takes place from August 1 to 3 each year and the fireworks show is held on August 2 and 3. The fireworks show was first held out of a desire for the recovery of Nagaoka City, which was destroyed in aerial bombing during World War II, and peace commemoration events and setting off offertory lanterns down the river are among other events that are held. In memory of the precious lives that were lost, at 10:30 pm on August 1 each year a pure white firework the “white chrysanthemum” is launched into the sky and at the same time memorial bells are rung at temples throughout the city.