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Fireworks · Tohoku
Sendai Tanabata Fireworks Festival
Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi🎆 Early August, the night before the Sendai Tanabata Festival (August 6–8) (August 5 (Wed), 2026)About 16,000 shells (2026, official)
Overview
Overview
An in-town fireworks festival held as the eve celebration of the Sendai Tanabata Festival. About 16,000 shells are launched from around Aobayama Park along the Hirose River. It is close to stations on the Tozai Subway Line, and there are also free viewing areas.
The festival began in 1970 as the eve celebration of the Tanabata Festival. About 16,000 shells go up in about an hour, and you can enjoy it together with the Sendai Tanabata Festival, which starts the next day.
- Venue
- Aobayama Park area (Hirose River, Kawauchi district)
- Visitors
- Usually about 450,000 people (official)
- Official website
- https://sendai-tanabatahanabi.com/
Tickets & tours you can book in advancePR
When
When it’s held
- Typical date
- Early August, the night before the Sendai Tanabata Festival (August 6–8) (August 5 (Wed), 2026)
- Time
- 19:30–20:30 (2026 example)
- Number of shells
- About 16,000 shells (2026, official)
- In bad weather
- Held in rain, canceled in bad weather (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
📍 Aobayama Koryu Hiroba and Tohoku University sports ground
Paid viewing seat area
📍 Omachi Nishi Park
Free viewing area. Near Omachi Nishi-koen Station on the Tozai Subway Line
📍 Ohanami Hiroba
Free viewing area
📍 Aobayama Park (Oimawashi)
Free viewing area
Paid Seats
Paid viewing seats
Reserved seats at the Tohoku University sports ground, and 2-person seats and box seats (with drink tickets) at Aobayama Park. Lottery and general sales are held on the ticket site linked from the official website, with tickets issued at FamilyMart and 7-Eleven
Example prices: Tohoku University sports ground reserved seat ¥4,500 per person, Aobayama Park 2-person seat ¥13,000, box seat (6 people) ¥35,000 (2026 example)
Crowds
Crowds and getting home
- Crowds
- The subway runs extra services from the 16:00 hour onward, but entry may be restricted in front of the ticket gates depending on crowding (Sendai City Transportation Bureau)
- Tips
- Allow plenty of time to get around. The venue toilets get crowded, so use them early
Rules
Venue rules
- !No dedicated parking. Use public transport
- !Please refrain from using tripods, monopods and selfie sticks
- !Please refrain from bringing pets
- !Traffic restrictions around the venue on the day
Tips
Good to know
- ✓The Sendai Tanabata Festival (August 6–8) starts the next day, so you can enjoy both in a row
- ✓Live broadcast on J:COM and archive streaming on YouTube
Access
Access
- Nearest station
- International Center Station (Tozai Subway Line)Right outside the exitNearest to the paid viewing area
- Omachi Nishi-koen Station (Tozai Subway Line)Right by the stationNearest to the free viewing areas
- From major stations and airports
- Sendai Station: Tozai Subway Line to International Center Station or Omachi Nishi-koen Station
Getting There
Getting there from major cities
Travel Passes
Travel passes for getting there
🚄 JR
🚄 JR🏨 Hotels nearby fill up quickly on festival days. Book early.
Where to Stay · Agoda
Places to Stay near Sendai Tanabata Fireworks FestivalPR
PR9.3ホテルメトロポリタン仙台イースト
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PR8.7ホテルビスタ仙台
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PR8.8仙台 ワシントン ホテル
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PR8.8アパホテル TKP仙台駅北
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Prices and availability are shown on Agoda.
Fireworks
Fireworks festivals in Tohoku
🎆 AugustAomori Fireworks Festival
Tohoku ・ Aomori, Aomori
🎆 August 7 every year (the final day of the Aomori Nebuta Festival)
About 10,000 shells (2026, including 2-shaku shells)Paid seats
🎆 AugustDate announcedAkagawa Fireworks Festival
Tohoku ・ Tsuruoka, Yamagata
🎆 Scheduled for Saturday, August 21, 2027
About 12,000 shells (official tourism sites of Tsuruoka City and Yamagata Prefecture)Paid seats
🎆 AugustOmagari Fireworks (National Fireworks Competition)
Tohoku ・ Daisen, Akita
🎆 Every year on the last Saturday of August
About 18,000 shells (2026, official)Paid seats
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
