There’s no better way to enjoy summer evenings in Yokohama than with a lit-up sky, a yukata, and a picnic. Yokohama fireworks festivals easily rival their Tokyo counterparts, with the perk of being less crowded — and often easier to watch. Here are the top picks, with bonus mentions for nearby Kamakura and Hakone.
Pro tip: Combine a day trip to the beach with a fireworks festival near Yokohama on a limited-offer summer bus tour.
1. Minato Mirai Smart Fireworks Festival
20,000 fireworksAugust 5, 2024
Minato Mirai, Yokohama
Yokohama’s biggest party arrives in the form of the Minato Mirai Smart Festival. Not only will this celebration have a 25-minute fireworks display, but it will also feature street performances and a DJ. The best spots require tickets, which start at ¥4,500.
2. Kanazawa Fireworks Festival
3,200 fireworksAugust 24, 2024
Umi-no-Koen, Kanazawa
Held in the southern area of Yokohama, this display takes place at the only swimming beach in the city: Umi-no-Koen, or Marine Park. There will be 3,200 fireworks launched into the sea air for an hour-long dazzling display. Marine Park will have food stalls and plenty of drinks to sustain the summer revelers, so you can choose to bring a picnic or enjoy the street-food offerings.
Note: If the weather is bad, the show will be canceled rather than postponed. The nearest stations are Uminokoen-shibaguchi, Uminokoen-minami guchi, or Hakkeijima.
3. Yokohama Sparkling Twilight
UndisclosedThroughout the year
Osanbashi Pier or Shinko Pier, Yokohama
What used to be a massive one-off fireworks festival has since turned into a year-long event, with displays lasting a full five minutes on certain nights. Check out our listing for the schedule.
4. Yokohama Port Festival
3000 fireworksJune 2, 2024
Rinko Park, Yokohama
One to bookmark for future visits — the annual Yokohama Port Festival lasts for two days and commemorates the port’s opening to foreign trade on June 2, 1859. To further commemorate the event, there is a fireworks show on the Sunday. While the amount of shots is modest (around 3,000), the performances, events, and infectious merriment stick around before and after the display.
Pro tip: See what else there is to do in Yokohama, and make the most of your night out.
5. Kamakura Fireworks
2,500 fireworksJuly 17, 2024
Yuigahama Beach, Kamakura
Smaller scale, and outside Yokohama, yes, but a fireworks display on a beach is too good to turn down. The Kamakura fireworks display takes place at Yuigahama, with plenty of good viewing spots on the beach or in Kamakura Seaside Park just behind it.
This is a great way to end a day of exploring Kamakura or relaxing on the beach, or is worth a trip of its own. The nearest station is Yuigahama or Wadazuka.
6. Hakone Ashinoko Summer Festival
2,500 fireworks each dayJuly 31–August 5, 2024
Moto-Hakone
If you prefer mountains to beaches, then you might opt for fireworks in the Hakone area — just a couple hours away from Tokyo.
This Ashinoko Summer Festival one of the biggest events of the year in Hakone and includes fireworks spanning a week, along with rituals, stalls, atmospheric lanterns, and a shrine torii gate on fire. In the same month, Hakone also hosts another popular festival.
7. Zushi Beach Fireworks Festival
7,000 fireworksMay 30, 2024
Zushi Beach, Zushi
This fireworks display by the beach kicks off summer in style each year. The 45-minute set shows off 7,000 fireworks. There is a paid seating area, but there are also places on the sand you can settle down for free.
This article was first published in 2017, and last updated in June 2024, by Alex Ziminski. While we do our best to ensure it’s correct, information is subject to change.
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