If you're planning to visit Japan in the summer, August is not just a month; it’s a vibrant explosion of culture! The country comes alive with traditional matsuri (festivals), dazzling fireworks shows, and vibrant cultural events. Picture locals and visitors alike adorning colorful yukata while indulging in tempting street food and celebrating under the enchanting summer night sky.
This guide takes you through the carefully selected festivals, fireworks displays, and special cultural events happening in August 2025. Whether you're embarking on your first adventure to Japan or returning for more unforgettable experiences, these celebrations promise to elevate your trip and ignite your spirit of adventure.
1. What Is a Japanese Festival (Matsuri)?
A matsuri is a vibrant celebration, deeply rooted in Japan's history. Most festivals are held to give thanks or pray to the gods and have been cherished for centuries—some for over 1,000 years! They showcase the rich tapestry of regional traditions and customs with exhilarating shrine rituals, lively parades, portable shrines (mikoshi), and mouth-watering street stalls, offering a true feast for the senses.
2. What Are Japanese Fireworks?
Hanabi taikai (fireworks festivals) are an iconic part of summer in Japan. Recently, many have evolved to feature musical collaborations, known as "music fireworks," alongside breathtaking displays that light up the night, serving as a perfect backdrop to picturesque cityscapes. These events offer not only excitement but also a wonderful way to delve into local culture and discover hidden scenic gems.
3. Fireworks: Itabashi Fireworks Festival
Date: August 2, 2025 (Saturday)
Location: Arakawa Riverside, Itabashi Ward, Tokyo
Fireworks Count: Approximately 15,000
Description: This spectacular festival is co-hosted by the Tokyo and Saitama prefectures, offering a unique chance to enjoy fireworks alongside the celebration across the river at Todabashi.
Highlights: Be captivated by the impressive fireworks, including the largest measuring 1 shaku 5 sun and the grand Niagara display stretching across 300m, lighting up the night sky dramatically.
4. Fireworks: Edogawa Fireworks Festival
Date: August 2, 2025 (Saturday)
Location: Edogawa Riverside (around Shinozaki Park), Edogawa Ward, Tokyo
Fireworks Count: Approximately 14,000
Description: This festival features a brilliantly crafted program with eight distinct themes, ensuring a delightful experience for all.
Highlights: A dynamic kickoff with 1,000 fireworks launched in the first 5 seconds will leave you awestruck!
5. Fireworks: Makuhari Beach Fireworks Festival
(Source:https://san-tatsu.jp/news/329246/)
Date: August 2, 2025 (Saturday)
Location: Makuhari Seaside Park, Mihama Ward, Chiba City
Fireworks Count: Approximately 20,000
Description: This grand festival is one of Japan's largest, synchronized to music, against a breathtaking backdrop of the ocean.
Highlights: Experience the “360-degree whirlpool of light” that erupts directly above the audience and admire the stunning star mine — a spectacular sight you won’t want to miss.
6. Fireworks: Ashikaga Fireworks Festival
Date: August 2, 2025 (Saturday)
Location: Tanakabashi Riverside, Watarase River, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture
Fireworks Count: Approximately 20,000
Description: This prestigious fireworks festival, boasting over 100 years of tradition, promises an unforgettable experience.
Highlights: The luxurious combination of consecutive star mines and spectacular Niagara fireworks captivates audiences from near and far.
7. Festival & Fireworks: Asaka Citizen’s Festival “Saika Matsuri”
(Source:https://sp.jorudan.co.jp/hanabi/spot_87216.html#google_vignette)
Date: August 1 (Friday) to 3 (Sunday), 2025
Location: All areas of Asaka City, Saitama Prefecture (Around Asaka Station and more)
Fireworks Count: Approximately 7,000
Description: A diverse program filled with citizen-participation Yosakoi dancing, model stalls, parades, and much more!
Highlights: The colorful display of Yosakoi Naruko dancing and the grand finale of fireworks create a major summer event you won’t want to miss.
8. Fireworks: Matsue Suigo Festival
Date: August 2 (Saturday) and 3 (Sunday), 2025
Location: Shijii Lake Shore, Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture
Fireworks Count: August 2 (10,000), August 3 (11,000)
Description: This unique festival features breathtaking synchronization of fantastic fireworks reflecting off the serene surface of Shijii Lake, all choreographed to music.
Highlights: The enchanting waterborne star mines and the continuous launches of spectacular large fireworks create a surreal atmosphere.
9. Fireworks: Nagaoka Fireworks Festival
Date: August 2 (Saturday) and 3 (Sunday), 2025
Location: Shinano River Riverside, Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture
Fireworks Count: Approximately 20,000 over two days
Description: One of Japan's three major fireworks festivals, this emotional event is dedicated to memorials and prayers for reconstruction.
Highlights: The magnificent "Phoenix Fireworks" will spread across the night sky in a breathtaking display, synchronized with music, delivering a powerful experience.
10. Festival: Nebuta Matsuri
(Source:https://www.nippon.com/ja/guide-to-japan/gu019013/)
Date: August 2 (Saturday) to 7 (Thursday), 2025
Location: Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture
Description: A traditional summer event of Tohoku, featuring stunning warrior illustrations parading through the city, combined with the rhythmic sound of dancers (Haneto) ringing in the air.
Highlights: The massive Nebuta, over 5 meters tall, beautifully illuminates the night city, culminating with a water festival and magnificent fireworks on the last day.
11. Festival: Akita Kanto Festival(Matsuri)
(Source:https://akita-fun.jp/spots/31)
Date: August 3 (Sunday) to 6 (Wednesday), 2025
Location: Akita City, Akita Prefecture - Kanto Street
Description: Delight in the skillful balancing of 12-meter-tall Kanto decorations weighing up to 50 kilograms, supported on foreheads and shoulders.
Highlights: The mesmerizing sway of lantern lights at night creates a fantastically enchanting view that fuses craftsmanship with beauty.
12. Fireworks: Minato Mirai Smart Festival
Date: August 4, 2025 (Monday)
Location: Around Rinkō Park, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Fireworks Count: Approximately 20,000
Description: A next-generation fireworks show that integrates with music, offering a fantastic audio-visual experience.
Highlights: Enjoy the stunning contrast between the massive Ferris wheel, towering skyscrapers, and radiant fireworks, creating a unique night view of Yokohama.
13. Fireworks: Chikugo River Fireworks Festival
Date: August 5, 2025 (Tuesday)
Location: Chikugo River Riverside, Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture
Fireworks Count: Approximately 15,000
Description: This large-scale fireworks festival in Western Japan features dual-launch fireworks shows creating an impressive spectacle.
Highlights: The wide range of star mines and consecutive pyrotechnics promise a powerful and overwhelming night experience.
14. Fireworks: Sendai Tanabata Fireworks Festival
(Source:https://sendaitaihaku.goguynet.jp/2022/08/05/sendaitanabatahanabisai2022/)
Date: August 5, 2025 (Tuesday)
Location: Around Nishi Park, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture
Fireworks Count: Approximately 16,000
Description: This citizen fireworks festival sets the stage for the vibrant Sendai Tanabata Festival.
Highlights: Witness the colorful fireworks reflecting in the night sky of the forest city, mingling with the festive atmosphere throughout the region.
15. Fireworks: Shinmei Fireworks (Ichikawa Misato Town Furusato Summer Festival)
Date: August 7, 2025 (Thursday)
Location: Fuefuki River Riverside, Ichikawa Misato Town, Yamanashi Prefecture
Fireworks Count: Approximately 20,000
Description: This historic festival showcases representative fireworks of Yamanashi, rooted in ceremonies dating back to the Edo period.
Highlights: The wide star mines and angled launches create an impressive three-dimensional display, making full use of the surrounding terrain.
16. Fireworks: Ibaraki Benten Fireworks Festival
Date: August 8, 2025 (Friday)
Location: Around Benten Temple, Ibaraki City, Osaka Prefecture
Fireworks Count: Approximately 3,000
Description: A locally-focused, enchanting fireworks festival held as part of a religious event, inviting community participation.
Highlights: The reflection of "upside-down fireworks" on the surface of the pond along with the melodic sounds of the launches resonate throughout the quiet mountains, creating a cherished experience.
17. Fireworks: Okutama Summer Fireworks Festival
Date: August 9, 2025 (Saturday)
Location: Tamagawa Riverside, Okutama Town, Nishitama District, Tokyo
Fireworks Count: Approximately 1,000 (planned)
Description: A relaxing fireworks display enjoyed amidst nature in the serene mountain area.
Highlights: The captivating sounds echoing in the valley accompanied by enchanting fireworks, beautifully reflected on the river's surface, create a memorable local event.
18. Festival: Kochi Yosakoi Festival
Date: August 9 (Saturday) to 12 (Tuesday), 2025
Location: Various locations in Kochi City, Kochi Prefecture
Description: This festival showcases the authentic Yosakoi Naruko dancing, with participants dancing through the city while holding Naruko.
Highlights: Experience the vibrant costumes and dynamic performances of dance teams from across the nation, complemented by the joyous sounds echoing through the streets.
19. Fireworks: Jingu Gaien Fireworks Festival
Date: August 16, 2025 (Saturday)
Location: Around Meiji Jingu Gaien, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo
Fireworks Count: Approximately 10,000
Description: An entertainment-filled fireworks festival situated right in the city's heart.
Highlights: The vibrant stage connected to live events paired with fireworks reflecting off urban buildings showcases a lively urban atmosphere.
20. Festival: THE AWAODORI (Tokushima Awa Odori)
Date: August 11 (Monday) to 15 (Friday), 2025
Location: Downtown Tokushima City, Tokushima Prefecture (Performance venues and streets)
Description: One of the largest Bon dances in Japan, encompassing over 400 years of tradition, drawing more than a million visitors from both Japan and abroad.
Highlights: The energetic performances from renowned teams, where tourists are invited to join in, combined with stunning productions and music create a mesmerizing experience.
21. Fireworks: Kanmon Straits Fireworks Festival
Date: August 13, 2025 (Wednesday)
Location: Moji District, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture (simultaneously held)
Fireworks Count: Approximately 18,000 from both shores combined
Description: A breathtaking fireworks show over the sea performed in collaboration between two cities located across the Kanmon Straits.
Highlights: The underwater fireworks launched from the center of the strait paired with simultaneous launches from both shores create a stunning panorama of pyrotechnics.
22. Festival: Gozan Okuribi
Date: August 16, 2025 (Saturday)
Location: Kyoto City, Eastern Mountain and Daimonjiyama among the five mountains
Description: This traditional Kyoto event marks the sending off of spirits during the Obon festival, where stunning fire characters light up the night sky.
Highlights: The flames ignited in sequence—“Daimonji,” “Myōhō,” “Funagata,” “Hidarimonji,” and “Torii”—quietly signal the end of summer and deepen the sense of solemnity.
23. Event: Comic Market 106
Date: August 15 (Friday) to 17 (Sunday), 2025
Location: Tokyo Big Sight, Koto Ward, Tokyo
Description: An extraordinary event, this is one of the largest doujinshi publishing fairs globally, celebrating manga, anime, and gaming culture.
Highlights: The venue will be a bustling hub, filled with tens of thousands of attendees, cosplayers, and exclusive merchandise that reflects the vibrant interactions among fans.
24. Fireworks: Akishima Citizen Whale Festival Dream Fireworks
(Source:https://yakei-fan.com/magazine/fireworks/tokyo/akishima-kujiramatsuri-hanabi2024.html)
Date: August 23 (Saturday) and 24 (Sunday), 2025
Location: Surrounding Showa Kinen Park stadium, Akishima City, Tokyo
Fireworks Count: Approximately 2,000
Description: These stunning dream fireworks will decorate the finale of the citizen festival "Kujira Matsuri," a cherished warm-weather tradition.
Highlights: The proximity of the launch site provides a powerful experience as the fireworks burst overhead, all within a family-friendly atmosphere.
25. Fireworks: Senshu Dream Fireworks in Sennan
(Source:https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000019.000075537.html)
Date: August 23, 2025 (Saturday)
Location: Rinku South Beach Swimming Area, Sennan City, Osaka Prefecture
Description: Experience one of the largest music-synchronized fireworks displays in Kansai, where beach vibes blend with electrifying music.
Highlights: The rhythmic fireworks synchronized with the music, set against a seaside backdrop, create an extraordinary experience you won’t forget.
26. Festival: Koenji Awa Odori
Date: August 23 (Saturday) and 24 (Sunday), 2025
Location: Koenji Station Shopping District, Suginami Ward, Tokyo
Description: Celebrate in style at this popular summer festival where the spirited Awa Odori dances from Tokushima come alive on a grand scale in Tokyo’s Koenji.
Highlights: Colorful groups parade through the shopping district, creating a vibrant atmosphere that connects with the audience and reflects the unique spirit of Koenji.
27. In Conclusion
August in Japan is not merely a month; it’s a vibrant experience filled with festivals, spiritual traditions, and spectacular fireworks. These events offer travelers unique opportunities to engage with the heart of Japanese summer culture—from dynamic dances and historic rituals to unforgettable nights illuminated by fireworks.
Each event featured in this guide is perfect for international visitors seeking authentic and memorable experiences. Be sure to add them to your itinerary and seize the summer adventure of a lifetime in Japan!
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