Discover the magic of the Katakai Fireworks Festival 2024, a spectacular event held annually at Asahara Shrine in Niigata Prefecture, featuring the world's largest fireworks display.
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About Katakai Fireworks Festival
The Katakai Festival takes place at Asahara Shrine in Niigata Prefecture on the second Friday and Saturday of September every year. With a history spanning over 400 years, this festival is the origin of the world's largest fireworks ball, the Shouyounsyakudama. Also, it is one of Niigata Prefecture's three major fireworks festivals.
As one of the region's major fireworks festivals, it attracts approximately 200,000 visitors each year who come to enjoy the spectacular fireworks and other traditional events.
In addition, the fireworks at the Katakai Festival are dedicated to Asahara Shrine by individuals and companies and are filled with various wishes, such as celebrating children's birthdays, weddings, good health, and family safety. Therefore, they broadcast a comment before each firework launch to explain the wishes it represents.
A particularly distinctive group that dedicates fireworks is a class association called "Dokyukai". In this area, it is customary for classmates to form a class association when they graduate from a local junior high school. These associations participate in the festival together at turning points in their lives, dedicating and setting off fireworks. Most of the fireworks that are the highlight of the festival are dedicated by these class associations.
The three major fireworks festivals in Niigata Prefecture are the Gion Kashiwazaki Festival Sea Fireworks Festival in July, the Nagaoka Fireworks Festival in August, and the Katakai Fireworks Festival in September.
Highlights of the Festival
Guinness record fireworks
The highlight of the Katagai Festival is, of course, the world's largest firework, the Shouyounsyakudama. This firework ball has a diameter of 120 centimeters and produces a display approximately 800 meters in diameter in the night sky. The sight of fireworks raining down with a roaring sound is spectacular.
Traditional events where you can feel the history of the Festival
From mid-morning to evening on the day of the festival, traditional events such as "Tsutsuhiki" and "Tama-okori" take place. Gorgeous traditional festival carts parade through the town, with the sounds of Japanese drums and flutes echoing, creating a lively atmosphere and allowing you to experience the tradition and history of the festival.
Tsutsuhiki: This event began as a parade around town with firework tubes. It now features wooden firework tubes being paraded around town to signal the beginning of the festival.
Tama-okuri: The votive fireworks set off at this festival were originally made by each group. To dedicate them, people carried fireworks on festival carts to the launch site, which is the origin of this event. Currently, after each festival cart is paraded through the city, a labour song called "Kiyari" is dedicated at Asahara Shrine.
Best Viewing Spots
The special seats for enjoying the Katakai fireworks are the paid seats located right in front of the launch venue. Tickets for these seats are available in advance and on the day of the event. However, if you are unable to purchase tickets, we recommend the following locations.
Katakai Elementary School
This elementary school is located about a 3-minute walk from the fireworks display site. With no tall buildings around, you can enjoy the powerful fireworks unobstructed. However, it is a very popular spot, so we recommend taking your place early.
Address: 8643 Katakaimachi, Ojiya, Niigata 947-0101, Japan
Koshiji Kasen Park
This park is a bit farther away, about a 10-minute drive from the fireworks festival venue. As a result, the fireworks will appear a little less powerful, but you can sit on the grass and watch them in a relaxed manner.
Address: 6280 Ura, Nagaoka, Niigata 949-5406, Japan
Getting there from Tokyo
From Tokyo, you can easily reach Niigata Prefecture, the site of the Katakai Fireworks Festival 2024, by Shinkansen.
Shinkansen
Jōetsu Shinkansen
- Tokyo Station -> Tsubamesanjo Station
- Travel time: Approximately 1 hour 49 minutes
Bus
- Tsubamesanjo Station -> Katagai
- Travel time: Approximately 26 minutes
Walk
- Katagai -> Asahara Shrine
- Travel time: Approximately 23 minutes
Katakai Fireworks Festival 2024 Event Schedule
Dates: 2024 September 13th (Fri) and 14th (Sat)
Time: 19:30 ~ 22:20
The world's largest firework will be set off at 22:00
Number of launches: Approximately 15,000
Venue: Asahara Shrine
Entry: Free
Reserved seats are available for sale. Please check the official website for more details.
Official Website: Katakai Fireworks Festival Official Website (Japanese)