Japan in September 2026
Illustrativeajari / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Last updated: July 13, 2026
By September the summer crowds thin out, but some of the most prestigious events remain — this is competition season, when pyrotechnicians compete for national titles. Evenings are cooler and more comfortable than the August peak, making it arguably the best month to actually enjoy a display.
Highlights this month
- Tonegawa Grand Fireworks Festival
Sakai (Sashima District), Ibaraki · September 19, 2026 (Sat) · about 30,000 fireworks - Joso Kinugawa Fireworks Festival
Joso, Ibaraki · September 12, 2026 (Sat) · about 22,000 fireworks - Oarai Marine Fireworks Festival
Oarai (Higashiibaraki District), Ibaraki · September 26, 2026 (Sat) · about 20,000 fireworks - Sakata Fireworks Show 2026
Sakata, Yamagata · September 12, 2026 (Sat) · about 10,000 fireworks
Visiting Japan in September: what to know
- Typhoon season peaks in September; displays are more likely to be postponed than cancelled, so keep a flexible evening and check the official site that day.
- Crowds and hotel prices ease compared with August, though competition dates still fill their host towns.
- Bring a light layer — riverbank evenings start to cool noticeably after sunset.
All 12 fireworks in September 2026
Dates marked Confirmed come from official festival or city websites; Expected dates are estimates updated as organizers announce them.
September 5
- 05 Sat — Sagamihara Noryo Fireworks Festival (Sagamihara, Kanagawa) Confirmed
- 05 Sat — National New Fireworks Competition (Zenkoku Shinsaku Hanabi Challenge Cup) (Suwa, Nagano) Confirmed
- 05 Sat — Hokkaido Art Fireworks 2026 (Moerenuma Art Fireworks) (Sapporo (Higashi Ward), Hokkaido) Confirmed
September 11–12
- 11 Fri — Katakai Festival Asahara Shrine Autumn Grand Festival Dedication Fireworks (Ojiya, Niigata) Confirmed
- 12 Sat — Chofu City of Film Fireworks Festival (Chofu City, Tokyo) Confirmed
- 12 Sat — Joso Kinugawa Fireworks Festival (Joso, Ibaraki) Confirmed
- 12 Sat — Numata Fireworks Festival (Numata, Gunma) Confirmed
- 12 Sat — Sakata Fireworks Show 2026 (Sakata, Yamagata) Confirmed
September 16–20
- 16 Wed — Nagahama Kita-Biwako Great Fireworks Festival (Nagahama-no-Jin) (Nagahama, Shiga) Confirmed
- 19 Sat — Tonegawa Grand Fireworks Festival (Sakai (Sashima District), Ibaraki) Confirmed
- 20 Sun — Himeji Minato Festival Sea Fireworks Display (Himeji, Hyogo) Confirmed
September 26
- 26 Sat — Oarai Marine Fireworks Festival (Oarai (Higashiibaraki District), Ibaraki) Confirmed
By prefecture
Gunma · Hokkaido · Hyogo · Ibaraki · Kanagawa · Nagano · Niigata · Shiga · Tokyo · Yamagata
Looking beyond September? See every festival on the Japan Fireworks Calendar 2026.