Japan in September 2026
Illustrativeajari / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Last updated: August 27, 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
Fireworks by prefecture
Gunma · Hokkaido · Hyogo · Ibaraki · Kanagawa · Nagano · Niigata · Shiga · Tokyo · Yamagata
Autumn leaves at their peak in September
In September the first autumn colour shows only in the highest, northernmost places — the alpine valleys and the peaks of Tohoku.
- Hachimantai Aspite Line
Hachimantai / Kazuno (Iwate-Akita border), Iwate · peak Late September to mid-October - Mt. Zao & Zao Onsen
Yamagata, Yamagata · peak Late September (summit) to mid-October (peak), coloring the onsen town into early November
See every spot on the Japan Autumn Leaves Guide 2026.
Looking beyond September? See the Japan Fireworks Calendar 2026 and the Japan Autumn Leaves Guide 2026.