Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival 2025

This is the big daddy of summer fireworks festivals in Tokyo. The Sumida River Fireworks show kicks off at 7 p.m. and runs for a full 90 minutes. This festival attracts massive crowds.

Check out our full guide to surviving the Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival.

What to expect

As the biggest fireworks festival in Tokyo, everything at the Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival is, well, bigger. The area around the Sumida River welcomes hundreds of thousands of yukata-clad visitors.

The fireworks are set off from two launch sites on the river, high into the Asakusa sky. Crowds are corralled into viewing areas on the carless roads, where they settle in on tarps with drinks and snacks. In areas with more breathing room, there are food stalls and other festival trimmings.

Where can I see the fireworks for free?

If you want to brave the crowds, there are free viewing areas along the river with close-up views. Follow the staff guiding you from the station, and you’ll be led to a closed-off street to settle in. This starts from about 3:30 p.m. on the day, so if you want the best viewing spots, come early.

Our top tip would be to head towards Tokyo Skytree. As you get closer, the crowds begin to thin out and you can stop at an intersection for a clear view.

For spots that afford a good view and aren’t insanely crowded, we recommend Shiori Park, which has a distant view of one of the launch points and Tokyo Skytree, or the north part of Oyokogawa Water Park near Tokyo Skytree and Honjo-Azumabashi Stations.

How to get there

The easiest way to get to a viewing spot in the center is to take the Asakusa Line or Ginza Line to Asakusa Station. From there, take the signaled path to a viewing area.

If you’d rather avoid the crowds, you can also walk from Tawaramachi or Kuramae Station. Both are about 7 minutes away and have festival stalls and less-crowded viewing spots.

Note: If there is stormy weather, the event may be postponed or canceled (to be announced at 8 a.m. on the day).