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Fireworks · Kansai

Kumano Fireworks Festival

Kumano, Mie🎆 August 17 every yearAbout 10,000 shells (official)
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Overview

Overview

The largest fireworks festival in the Kishu region, launching about 10,000 shells every August 17. Set against the World Heritage sites of Shichiri-mihama and Onigajo, it features unique set-piece fireworks using the sea and the rocks. The venue is about 5 min on foot from JR Kumanoshi Station.

Its signature is the Sanshakudama Kaijo Jibaku, in which a 3-shaku shell about 90 cm in diameter is exploded on a raft offshore. The finale is the Onigajo Oshikake, using the rocks of the World Heritage site Onigajo, closing with large shells and many self-exploding shells.

Venue
Shichiri-mihama Beach (Kinomoto-cho, Ido-cho and Arima-cho, Kumano)
Visitors
About 170,000 (Mie Prefecture Tourism Federation)
Official website
https://www.kumano-kankou.info/kumano-fireworks/
When

When it’s held

Typical date
August 17 every year
Time
19:10–around 21:00 (official)
Number of shells
About 10,000 shells (official)
In bad weather
Postponed to a backup date in bad weather or high waves (backup dates in 2026: August 21, 24 and 27). Final decision on holding or postponing announced on the official website at 6:00 on the day (according to official information)

Dates and times change every year. Always check the organizer’s official website for the latest information.

☁ Weather in August →
Where to Watch

Where to watch

📍 Shichiri-mihama Beach

The beach near Kumano City Hall is the venue. The water’s edge from around Onigajo is a no-entry zone

📍 Sponsor viewing seats (beach seats and embankment seats)

Beach seats are near Gates 6–7 on the beach (about 100 m), 4 people per section

Paid Seats

Paid viewing seats

Sponsor viewing seats: beach seats (about 1.8 m square, up to 4 people, near Gates 6–7 on the beach), embankment seats and camera seats. Applications via Ticket Pia, the Kumano City Tourism Association counter and furusato nozei hometown tax donations (all closed for 2026)

Crowds

Crowds and getting home

Crowds
Heavy traffic jams around the venue, with both trains and roads crowded in the afternoon. After the show, well over 100,000 people move at once, and the embankment gates and stairs are especially dangerous
Tips
To avoid crowds, arriving in the morning is recommended. On the way back, follow security guards’ directions and move slowly (official)
Rules

Venue rules

  • !The water’s edge from around Onigajo is a no-entry zone
  • !Spot reservation only from the opening date and time (around 16:50 on August 12 in 2026). Unattended spots after 19:00 may be cleared
  • !Bringing or flying drones and similar is prohibited
  • !No swimming at Shichiri-mihama Beach
  • !On the day, traffic restrictions on the Kumano-Owase Road toward Shingu, and no street parking
Tips

Good to know

  • ✓Postponements due to high waves are common, so check the official website for event information before you set out
  • ✓Special train times are listed on the Kumano City Tourism Association website
  • ✓Temporary toilets have queues, so use them early
Access

Access

Nearest station
  • Kumanoshi Station (JR Kisei Main Line)About 5 min on footThe area around the station is also crowded. Special trains run on the day
From major stations and airports
  • Nagoya Station: JR Limited Express Nanki (About 3 hours)
  • Nagoya Station (Meitetsu Bus Center): Mie Kotsu highway bus (About 4 hours)
  • Shin-Osaka Station: JR Limited Express Kuroshio to Shingu Station (about 4 hours), then transfer to a local train (About 40 min from Shingu Station)
Open in Google Maps ↗

🏨 Hotels nearby fill up quickly on festival days. Book early.

Where to Stay · Agoda

Places to Stay near Kumano Fireworks FestivalPR

PRSee more places to stay near Kumano Fireworks Festival on Agoda →

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Fireworks

Fireworks festivals in Kansai

🎆 August

Lake Biwa Fireworks Festival

Kansai ・ Otsu, Shiga

🎆 Early August (held on Thursday, August 6 in 2026)

About 12,000 shells (2026, official)Paid seats
🎆 October

Naniwa Yodogawa Fireworks Festival

Kansai ・ Yodogawa-ku, Osaka, Osaka

🎆 In recent years, a Saturday in mid-October (October 18 in 2025, October 17 in 2026)

Paid seats
See all fireworks festivals →

Typical dates, number of shells, paid seats and venues are based on official information from organizers, municipalities and tourism associations. Events can change or be cancelled, so check the official website before you go.

Last checked: 2026-10-09

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