Tsuchiura All Japan Fireworks Competition 2026

Last updated: July 12, 2026. All facts below are compiled from official festival, city and tourism association websites (linked at the end of this page).

The competition began in 1925, when Baiho Akimoto, the 24th head priest of Shinryuji Temple in Tsuchiura, funded a fireworks display on the shores of Lake Kasumigaura to console the spirits of Kasumigaura Naval Air Corps members who died on duty and to revive the local economy after the post-earthquake recession; the November 7, 2026 event is the 95th edition, following the 100th-anniversary year of 2025.

Key Facts

Highlights

• One of Japan's three great fireworks competitions (alongside Omagari and Ise), and the only one held within easy reach of Greater Tokyo: top pyrotechnicians from across the country compete rather than simply perform.
• Entries are judged in three categories - 10-go (about 30 cm) shells, starmine rapid-fire barrages, and creative fireworks - with the best overall pyrotechnician receiving the Prime Minister's Prize, an honor awarded only at Tsuchiura and Omagari.
• Around 20,000 fireworks light up the autumn night over the Sakuragawa river during the 2.5-hour program (17:30-20:00).
• The non-competition finale is a famous giant 'wide starmine' that fills the entire width of the riverfront sky, regarded as the signature spectacle of the event.

Where to Watch

Sajiki (tatami-mat box) seats on the Sakuragawa riverbank (Paid seating)

Traditional raised platform seating directly facing the launch site near Gakuen-ohashi Bridge, sold as a full 'masu' box (about 1.7m x 1.7m, up to 5 people) or a half box (up to 2 people). These offer the closest, unobstructed views of the competition entries and the giant wide-starmine finale.
JR Joban Line Tsuchiura Station (West Exit), then shuttle bus about 10 min or a roughly 30-min (2.5 km) walk

Where to Watch

Table and chair seats on the riverside embankment (Paid seating)

Individual reserved chair seats (grades A-C) and 4-person table seats set along the embankment near the sajiki area. This zone replaced the former free viewing area, so it is now the main way to watch from close range without booking a full box.
JR Joban Line Tsuchiura Station (West Exit), then shuttle bus about 10 min or a roughly 30-min walk

Where to Watch

Kasumigaura Sogo Park (distant view) (Free)

A large lakeside city park with a landmark Dutch-style windmill, about 3-4 km southeast of the launch site, popular as an unofficial distant viewing spot. The fireworks appear small and low shells may be hidden by terrain, but crowds are far lighter than at the venue; note it is not an officially designated viewing area.
About 30-40 min on foot or a short bus/taxi ride from JR Tsuchiura Station

Where to Watch

Kamitakatsu Shell Mound Park (Furusato History Plaza, distant view) (Free)

An elevated historical park on high ground west of central Tsuchiura where locals gather for a distant, panoramic view of the sky above the launch site. It is an unofficial spot with no event facilities, so bring everything you need and expect a partial view.
About 30 min on foot from JR Tsuchiura Station (West Exit); taxi recommended

How to Buy Tickets

All paid seats are sold in advance by lottery through the Ticket Pia platform; there are no first-come online sales, convenience store sales, or on-site sales. For the 2025 (94th) edition, applications were accepted on Ticket Pia from August 12 to September 7, 2025, with lottery results announced September 11 and tickets mailed to Japanese addresses in mid-October. Details for the November 7, 2026 (95th) edition had not been published as of early July 2026, but the same pattern (applications opening in mid-August) is expected - check the official site from summer.

• Platforms: Ticket Pia (official lottery), Official site tsuchiura-hanabi.jp (announcements and links)
• Price range: In 2025: full sajiki box (5 people) JPY 26,000; half box (2 people) JPY 13,000; 4-person table seat JPY 80,000; individual chair seats JPY 4,000-6,000. 2026 prices were not yet announced.
• Sales start: TBA
• English purchase: Japanese only (consider a proxy service or asking your hotel)

Getting There

Take the JR Joban Line from Tokyo's Ueno Station to Tsuchiura Station: about 45 minutes by the reserved-seat Limited Express Tokiwa/Hitachi, or about 70 minutes by regular rapid train. From the station's West Exit, a paid shuttle bus reaches the Sakuragawa riverside venue near Gakuen-ohashi Bridge in about 10 minutes, or you can walk the roughly 2.5 km (about 30 minutes). Roads around the venue are closed to traffic on event day, so driving to the venue itself is not practical.

Crowd & Timing Tips

• Several hundred thousand spectators (reported at up to around 800,000 in past years) descend on this mid-size city, so arrive by early-to-mid afternoon to move around comfortably.
• After the 20:00 finish the crush toward Tsuchiura Station is severe and entry restrictions may be imposed at the station; either leave slightly before the finale or plan to wait out the peak at a restaurant or the food stalls.
• Book reserved seats on the Limited Express Tokiwa/Hitachi (or an early Joban Line departure) in advance for the return to Tokyo, as ordinary trains are packed to capacity.
• It is a November night event: temperatures often drop below 10C after sunset, so bring a warm jacket, and a blanket or cushion if you have sajiki seats.
• Free standing viewing near the venue is heavily restricted - the levee between Gakuen-ohashi and Tsuchiura-bashi is barricaded to prevent stopping - so decide on a paid seat or a distant spot before you go.

Weather Policy

The 2026 event is scheduled for Saturday, November 7 (17:30-20:00) and will be postponed to Saturday, November 14 in the case of severe weather.

Frequently Asked Questions

When and where is the 2026 Tsuchiura fireworks competition held?

The 95th edition is scheduled for Saturday, November 7, 2026, from 17:30 to about 20:00, on the Sakuragawa riverbank near Gakuen-ohashi Bridge in Tsuchiura, Ibaraki, about an hour from Tokyo.

Can foreign visitors buy tickets in English?

Not easily. Paid seats are sold only by advance lottery on Ticket Pia, which operates in Japanese, and tickets are mailed to addresses in Japan. Visitors without Japanese skills or a domestic address usually ask a Japan-based friend, hotel concierge, or use a tour service - or watch from an unofficial free spot.

Is there a free viewing area at the venue?

No. The former free riverside viewing area was converted to paid chair seating from 2022, and the levee near the venue is barricaded to prevent standing viewing. Free viewing is only realistic from distant spots such as Kasumigaura Sogo Park.

How do I get there from Tokyo?

Take the JR Joban Line from Ueno Station to Tsuchiura Station - about 45 minutes by Limited Express Tokiwa/Hitachi or about 70 minutes by regular train - then a 10-minute shuttle bus or 30-minute walk from the West Exit to the venue.

What happens if the weather is bad?

In severe weather the 2026 event will be postponed to Saturday, November 14; check the official website (tsuchiura-hanabi.jp) on the day for the final decision.

How crowded does it get, and how do I avoid the worst of it?

Attendance has reached several hundred thousand people, and the post-show rush to Tsuchiura Station can involve long waits and station entry controls. Arrive in the early afternoon, reserve your return express seat in advance, and consider staying overnight in Tsuchiura or Tsukuba.

See more fireworks in the area: Ibaraki Fireworks Festivals 2026 · Japan Fireworks Calendar 2026

Sources

• https://www.tsuchiura-hanabi.jp/
• https://www.tsuchiura-hanabi.jp/page/page000239.html
• https://www.tsuchiura-hanabi.jp/page/page000020.html
• https://www.tsuchiura-hanabi.jp/page/page000021.html
• https://www.tsuchiura-hanabi.jp/page/page000012.html
• https://www.city.tsuchiura.lg.jp/kanko-bunka-sports/tsuchiuranohanabi/page000275.html
• https://www.ibarakiguide.jp/event.php?mode=detail&code=736