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This article introduces the highlights and charm of the Nagaoka Fireworks Festival.
For tips on how to get tickets, avoid crowds, and make the most of your first visit, see the article below.
For how to secure Nagaoka Fireworks tickets without going through the lottery, see the following article.
The Nagaoka Fireworks Festival is held every year on August 2 and 3 along the Shinano River riverbank in Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture. It is counted among Japan’s three greatest fireworks festivals, alongside Omagari and Tsuchiura. However, while the other two are competitions where pyrotechnicians compete for awards, Nagaoka is fundamentally different: it is a memorial event dedicated to honoring the war dead and praying for peace and recovery.
| Venue | Shinano River Riverbank, Nagaoka City |
|---|---|
| Dates | August 2 & 3 |
| Time | 7:20 pm – 9:10 pm (tentative) |
| Nearest Station | JR Nagaoka Station |
| Parking | Official parking lots provided by the organizers, or privately operated parking lots |
| Official Website | https://nagaokamatsuri.com |
Over the two-day event, a total of 20,000 fireworks light up the night sky. Launched from the vast venue along the Shinano River riverbank, the sheer number of fireworks is nothing short of spectacular.
In the middle of the show, a thunderous boom shakes the ground and reverberates through your entire body.
Look up, and an enormous blossom of fire fills more of the sky than your eyes can take in.
That is the Sanjakudama, a giant firework shell about 90 cm (35 inches) in diameter.
Weighing about 300 kg (660 lbs), the shell is launched 600 m (2,000 ft) into the sky, where it blooms into a fiery sphere approximately 650 m (2,130 ft) across.
First launched in 1926, the Sanjakudama has been the defining symbol of the Nagaoka Fireworks Festival for a century.
2026 marks the 100th anniversary of the Sanjakudama, and a simultaneous launch with a Niagara firework is also planned.
The Phoenix Fireworks for Recovery is a large-scale fireworks show inspired by the mythical phoenix, symbolizing rebirth.
For approximately 5 minutes, fireworks are launched simultaneously across a span of about 2 km (1.2 miles), shifting through vivid colors of red, blue, green, and yellow, painting the night sky in breathtaking fashion.
The Nagaoka Fireworks Festival is founded on three principles: remembrance, recovery, and prayer for peace. These pillars give the event a gravity that sets it apart from any other fireworks festival.
On the night of August 1, 1945—just days before the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki—a formation of B-29 bombers dropped incendiary bombs on Nagaoka City. Roughly 80% of the urban area was destroyed, and 1,488 lives were lost.
Just one year after the war ended, in 1946, the citizens launched the Nagaoka Reconstruction Festival. Fireworks returned the following year, in 1947.
For the people rebuilding from the ashes, fireworks rising into the night sky became a symbol of recovery itself.
Every year on August 1 at 22:30—the exact time the air raid began—a pure white firework called Shiragiku (white chrysanthemum) is launched into the sky. Unlike the spectacular displays of August 2 and 3, this memorial firework ascends quietly and solemnly.
The festival is supported by a large number of citizen volunteers, from providing launch sites to directing traffic, making this a truly community-driven event.
The Nagaoka Fireworks Festival is held every year on August 2 and 3, regardless of what day of the week those dates fall on.
While most fireworks festivals in Japan are scheduled on weekends, the Nagaoka Fireworks Festival keeps its dates fixed.
This is because the festival is rooted in honoring the victims of the Nagaoka air raid on August 1, 1945.
The Shinano River riverbank, where the Nagaoka Fireworks Festival takes place, is about a 30-minute walk from JR Nagaoka Station.
Although the venue is a fair distance from the station, the route is straightforward. Follow the flow of fellow visitors and you will reach the venue without getting lost.
Below is the South Area of Venue A.
Food stalls, restrooms, smoking areas, and first aid stations are set up in each area of the venue.
Food stalls sell dishes such as yakisoba, takoyaki, onigiri (rice balls), and fried chicken, along with beer, chu-hi (a popular Japanese mixed drink), and soft drinks.
Restrooms are also set up at multiple locations in each area, but expect to wait in line. Depending on the timing, plan for a wait of about 15 minutes.
Designated smoking areas are provided in each section as well.
If you feel unwell or get injured, head to the first aid station. First aid stations are located in each area.
The walk from Nagaoka Station to the venue takes about 30 minutes, but a taxi ride gets you there in just 5 to 10 minutes.
The festival is held in August, the peak of summer. If you are not used to walking long distances in the scorching heat, taking a taxi from the station is a smart option. The fare is around ¥1,500 (about $10 USD), so weigh it against your own stamina and comfort.
Note that traffic restrictions are in place on the day of the event. If you want to take a taxi, head to the venue as early as possible, ideally before the evening.
Dedicated parking lots are available for the Nagaoka Fireworks Festival. Both official and private parking options exist, and all require advance reservations.
Starting in 2025, all official parking lots were switched to a lottery-based paid reservation system. Previously available free parking and first-come-first-served lots have been discontinued.
To use an official parking lot, you need the reservation code included with your mailed spectator ticket. Prices range from ¥1,000 to ¥6,000.
| Location | Address | Capacity | Price (yen) | Opens | Access to Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Echigo Hillside Park | 1950-1 Miyamoto Higashigatamachi Mitsumate, Nagaoka, Niigata | 1,800 | 5,000 | 1:00 pm | Shuttle bus to the venue (approx. 25 min one way) |
| Nanbu Industrial Park | 1027-5 Nanyo 1-chome, Nagaoka, Niigata | 1,620 | 4,000 | 3:00 pm | Shuttle bus to Nagaoka City Theater (approx. 10 min one way) |
| Former Musashi Nagaoka Store | 64 Koshoji - machi, Nagaoka, Niigata | 760 | 6,000 | 10:00 am | Near Venue B. Walk from the lot to the venue. Exit restrictions apply. |
| Nagaoka Institute of Design | 198 Senshu 4-chome, Nagaoka, Niigata | 230 | 5,000 | 10:00 am | Near Venue B. Walk from the lot to the venue. Exit restrictions apply. |
| Nagaoka Lyric Hall | 1356-6 Senshu 3-chome, Nagaoka, Niigata | 350 | 6,000 | 10:00 am | Near Venue B. Walk from the lot to the venue. Exit restrictions apply. |
| Saiwai Plaza | 2-1-1 Saiwai-cho, Nagaoka, Niigata | 200 | 4,000 | 10:00 am | Near Venue A. Walk from the lot to the venue. |
| DMG MORI Precision Boring | 1-430-1 Shirooka, Nagaoka, Niigata | 95 | 3,000 | 10:00 am | Walk to JR Kita - Nagaoka Station. Take the train to Nagaoka Station. Walk to the venue. |
| Nagaoka Hokubu Gymnasium | 2-2-72 Higashizao, Nagaoka, Niigata | 150 | 3,000 | 10:00 am | Walk to JR Kita - Nagaoka Station. Take the train to Nagaoka Station. Walk to the venue. |
| Koshiji Branch Office | 715 Ura, Nagaoka, Niigata | 150 | 1,000 | 10:00 am | Walk to JR Raigoji Station. Take the train to Nagaoka Station. Walk to the venue. |
| Koshiji Gymnasium | Ko-885 Raigoji, Nagaoka, Niigata | 200 | 1,000 | 10:00 am | Walk to JR Raigoji Station. Take the train to Nagaoka Station. Walk to the venue. |
| Yukyuzan Park | 80-5 Miyama-cho, Nagaoka, Niigata | 200 | 3,000 | 10:00 am | Shuttle bus to Nagaoka Station East Exit (approx. 15 min one way, ¥240) |
Nagaoka Fireworks Festival Parking [PDF]
Nagaoka Institute of Design, Nagaoka Lyric Hall, Saiwai Plaza, and the former Musashi Nagaoka Store are close to the fireworks venue, allowing you to walk directly from the lot. Precisely because of this convenience, they tend to be the most popular and hardest to win in the lottery.
Parking reservations, whether official or private, are made through Nokisaki Parking.
Official lots alone are far from sufficient, so private businesses and individual homeowners also offer paid parking. All of these are reservation-only and paid.
Rates generally run around ¥4,000 to ¥8,000 for lots farther from the venue, ¥10,000 to ¥17,000 near Nagaoka Station, and upward of ¥20,000 for lots close to the venue—significantly more expensive than the official options.
The Nagaoka Fireworks Festival is an all-paid-seat event with no free viewing areas. To watch the fireworks from the venue, you must purchase a spectator ticket.
Tickets are allocated through an online lottery. If you win, you can purchase your spectator tickets. Starting in 2026, an all-seat lottery system has been adopted and first-come-first-served sales have been discontinued.
| Apr 10 (Fri) – Apr 28 (Tue) | Advance Lottery for Nagaoka Residents Application: dedicated postcard only (postcards distributed with the April city newsletter) |
|---|---|
| Mid - May | Lottery results announced |
| May 25 (Mon) – Jun 8 (Mon) | General Sales – First Lottery Round Online only |
| Mid - Jun | Lottery results announced |
| Jun 18 (Thu) – Jun 22 (Mon) | General Sales – Second Lottery Round Online only |
| Late Jun | Lottery results announced |
| Jul 6 (Mon) – | Official Resale Online |
| Apr 10 – Apr 30 | Advance Lottery for Nagaoka Residents Application: dedicated postcard only (postcards distributed with the April city newsletter) |
|---|---|
| – May 23 (Fri) | Lottery results announced |
| May 26 (Mon) – Jun 6 (Fri) | General Lottery Sales Online only |
| Jun 17 (Tue) | Lottery results announced |
| Jun 30 (Mon) – Jul 11 (Fri) | If unsold tickets remain First - come - first - served online sales |
| Jul 4 (Fri) – | Official Resale Online |
| Apr 10 – Apr 30 | Advance Lottery for Nagaoka Residents Dedicated postcard only |
|---|---|
| Late May onward | Lottery results announced |
| May 27 – Jun 7 | General Lottery Sales Online only |
| Jun 17 (Mon) 6:00 pm onward | Lottery results announced |
| Jun 27 (Thu) – Jul 12 (Fri) | First - come - first - served online sales |
| Jul 8 (Mon) 12:00 pm – Jul 24 (Wed) 11:59 pm | Official Resale Online |
| Apr 10 – Apr 28 | Advance Lottery for Nagaoka Residents Online or dedicated postcard |
|---|---|
| – May 26 | Lottery results announced |
| May 29 – Jun 9 | General Lottery Sales Online only |
| – Jun 16 | Lottery results announced |
| Jun 19 – Jun 23 | If unsold tickets remain First - come - first - served online sales |
| Jun 26 – Jul 14 | Official Resale Online or by phone |
Nagaoka Fireworks Ticket Center
The Nagaoka fireworks burn across the summer sky, capturing your heart in an instant and drawing you into a deep sense of wonder.
Each firework that rises into the air is like a painting drawn against the night. The vivid yet delicate colors mesmerize spectators and stir something deep within.
The Sanjakudama, above all, is overwhelming. Erupting across the sky with a rumble that shakes the earth, this colossal firework leaves a powerful impression that lingers long after it fades. Its beauty is beyond what words can capture.
Music-synchronized fireworks are another defining feature of the Nagaoka Fireworks Festival. Fireworks launch in perfect time with the soundtrack, engaging not just your eyes but your ears, as though the fireworks themselves are dancing to the music.
Remembrance, recovery, and prayer for peace. The meaning behind every single firework resonates deeply with all who watch.
The Nagaoka fireworks are a light of hope blooming in the summer night sky—a light that stays with you long after the show ends.
This is a fireworks festival everyone should experience at least once in a lifetime. Make the trip to the Nagaoka Fireworks Festival and see it for yourself.
