Tokyo Fireworks 2026: Complete Summer Guide for East Tokyo
Tokyo Fireworks 2026: Complete Summer Guide for East Tokyo
The Tokyo Bay fireworks festival is returning this October after an 11-year absence—a one-off revival for Chuo Ward's 80th anniversary, with 12,200 fireworks over the harbour. That alone makes 2026 an unusual summer. Add four other major festivals across July and August, and this is one of the better years to be in Tokyo for hanabi season.
I'm Atsushi, host at Bon House in Kanamachi. I've been sending guests to fireworks festivals from this neighbourhood for years. Kanamachi sits in Katsushika Ward in eastern Tokyo, which puts you within direct reach of the largest concentration of fireworks festivals in the metropolitan area. Five festivals. One base. No checking out and repacking between shows.
Here's what's confirmed for 2026.
All Five Festivals at a Glance
| Festival | Date | Fireworks | From Kanamachi | Crowd Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 足立の花火 (Adachi) | May 30 (Sat) | ~13,000 | ~30 min | Moderate |
| 隅田川花火大会 (Sumida River) | July 25 (Sat) | ~20,000 | ~25 min | Very High |
| 葛飾納涼花火大会 (Katsushika) | July 28 (Tue) | ~20,000 | 20 min walk | High |
| 江戸川区花火大会 (Edogawa) | August 1 (Sat) | ~14,000 | ~50 min | Moderate |
| 東京湾大華火祭 (Tokyo Bay) | October 24 (Sat) | ~12,200 | ~60 min | High |
足立の花火 — May 30
When: Saturday, May 30. Show runs 19:20–20:20 (1 hour).
Where: Arakawa riverbank, Adachi Ward.
Scale: ~13,000 fireworks.
Access from Kanamachi: JR Joban Line to Kita-Senju (~10 min), then 20-minute walk to the riverbank. Total around 30 minutes.
Viewing tip: Adachi is the least-crowded of the five festivals relative to its scale. The Arakawa riverbank is wide and there's generally room to find a decent spot without arriving hours early. May evenings can still be cool—bring a light jacket.
隅田川花火大会 — July 25
When: Saturday, July 25. Show runs 19:00–20:30.
Where: Two launch sites. Site 1: between Sakurabashi Bridge and Kototoibashi Bridge. Site 2: between Komagatabashi and Umayabashi, downstream from Asakusa.
Scale: ~20,000 total fireworks across both sites.
Access from Kanamachi: JR Joban Line to Kita-Senju, then Tsukuba Express to Asakusa station (~25 min total). The main Asakusa viewing areas get extremely crowded.
Better viewing spot: Instead of fighting the main crowds near Asakusa, go to 東白鬚公園 (Higashi-Shirahige Park) in Sumida Ward. From Kachidoki or Keisei's Oshiage area, take Tobu Skytree Line to 鐘ヶ淵 (Kanegafuchi) Station — the park is a 7-minute walk. You see Site 2 clearly and the crowd is a fraction of the Asakusa side.
Crowd tip: Arrive by 16:00. If you arrive at 18:00, you'll spend 45 minutes just clearing the station area. After the show ends at 20:30, wait until after 21:00 before heading to the station — the crush is severe for the first 30 minutes post-show.
葛飾納涼花火大会 — July 28 (Closest to Kanamachi)
When: Tuesday, July 28. Show runs 19:20–20:30.
Where: Shibamata Baseball Field, Edogawa riverbank, Katsushika Ward.
Scale: ~20,000 fireworks plus a drone show for the 60th anniversary.
This is the one I recommend most to Bon House guests. It's the closest festival to us—20 minutes on foot from the guesthouse, or a quick train to Shibamata and then a 10-minute walk. Being a Tuesday, the crowd profile is different from weekend festivals: fewer day-trippers, more locals.
See the full guide: Katsushika Fireworks 2026 — 60th Anniversary Complete Guide
Access from Kanamachi: - Walk from Bon House/Kanamachi Station (JR): 20 minutes directly - Fastest: Keisei Kanamachi Station → Keisei Shibamata (~5 min) → 10-min walk to site - Shin-Shibamata (Hokuso Line): 15-min walk, least crowded station exit
Viewing tip: The 葛西神社 riverbank area is less packed than the main viewing zones. Paid reserved seats go on general sale mid-June via CNPlayGuide (~¥2,000 range for premium spots).
江戸川区花火大会 — August 1
When: Saturday, August 1. Show runs 19:15–20:20.
Where: Edogawa riverbank near Shinozaki Park, Edogawa Ward.
Scale: ~14,000 fireworks.
Access from Kanamachi: Take JR Joban Line to Kita-Senju, transfer to Toei Shinjuku Line at Shinkoiwa or route via central Tokyo to Shinozaki Station (Toei Shinjuku Line). About 45–50 minutes total. Shinozaki Station is a 15-minute walk to the viewing area.
Practical note: Traffic around Shinozaki Park is restricted from 17:00–22:00, so if you're not walking from the station, plan accordingly. Paid seats (~¥2,000) offer reserved space along the main riverbank.
東京湾大華火祭 — October 24
When: Saturday, October 24. Venue: Harumi, Chuo Ward.
Scale: ~12,200 fireworks.
Why this year is different: The Tokyo Bay fireworks last ran in 2015. It's been 11 years. The 2026 revival is specifically tied to Chuo Ward's 80th anniversary—which means there's no guarantee of a 2027 edition. If you're in Tokyo in late October, this is worth factoring into your plans.
Access from Kanamachi: About 60 minutes. Take JR Joban Line toward central Tokyo, transfer to Toei Oedo Line, exit at Kachidoki Station (15-min walk to Harumi waterfront).
October context: Cooler weather, no mosquitoes, and fireworks reflecting off Tokyo Bay. Very different atmosphere from the humid summer shows.
Why East Tokyo Works for Fireworks Season
Most visitors book accommodation near Shinjuku or Shibuya and then commute 45–60 minutes each way to every fireworks event. From Kanamachi, three of the five festivals are within 30 minutes, and two of them are under 25 minutes. The Katsushika festival is a walk away.
The practical effect: you can go home and change between the afternoon and the fireworks. You're not managing luggage on packed trains. On the nights with dense post-show crowds, you can wait it out at a nearby izakaya and let the stations clear before heading back—because home is close.
Mariko and Kenji, a couple from Osaka, stayed at Bon House for a week in late July last year. They caught the Sumida River fireworks on the Saturday using the Higashi-Shirahige Park tip, then the Katsushika festival the following Tuesday evening—walking from the guesthouse in yukata. They told me afterward that doing two major festivals in four days without switching hotels was something they'd never managed before in Tokyo. They spent what they saved on accommodation on good seats at the Katsushika reserved section instead.
Check availability for July and August at Bon House →
Practical Tips for Tokyo Fireworks
What to bring: - IC card (Suica/Pasmo) — IC card entry to stations is faster than ticket purchases in crowded conditions - Small mat or newspaper to sit on - Bug spray (July/August riverbank = mosquitoes) - Cash — many food stalls don't accept card - Phone battery pack — maps drain batteries fast in the crowd
What to avoid: - Arriving at major festivals after 18:00 on Saturday nights - Trying to leave immediately when the show ends (wait 30–45 min) - Booking accommodation near the venue itself — it gets expensive and the commute advantage disappears if you're already there
Weather: Tokyo summer festivals typically have rain contingency dates. Check official websites in the week before each festival. Katsushika's rain date is the following day (July 29).
FAQ
Which Tokyo fireworks festival is the biggest? Sumida River and Katsushika are both ~20,000 fireworks—the largest in this list. Sumida River is more famous internationally; Katsushika is better for anyone staying in eastern Tokyo because access is easier and crowds are more manageable relative to the scale.
Is Sumida River fireworks free? The viewing area along the riverbank is free, but prime spots fill up from 14:00 onward on the day. Some restaurants and venues along the river sell reserved window seats—these cost ¥10,000–¥30,000+ per person. Paid bleacher seats in Sumida Park are also available and sell out quickly.
What is the best viewing spot for the Katsushika fireworks? The 葛西神社 (Kasai Shrine) riverbank area is consistently less crowded than the main Shibamata-side zones. For the best sight lines with a seat guarantee, the paid reserved section near the baseball field is worth booking once general sales open in mid-June.
When should I book accommodation for Tokyo fireworks? Accommodation near Sumida River (Asakusa, Ryogoku, Higashi-Mukojima) sells out 2–3 months in advance for the July 25 weekend. For eastern Tokyo, Katsushika is on a Tuesday, which means less hotel competition. May and early June are safe booking windows for July/August stays.
For the full breakdown of the Katsushika festival—viewing spots, access routes, ticket sales, and the drone show details—see the dedicated guide: Katsushika Fireworks 2026: 60th Anniversary Complete Guide.
Bon House is a short walk from the Katsushika venue and well-placed for all five festivals. See the room and check availability →