Itabashi Fireworks Festival

The Itabashi Fireworks Festival runs at the same time as the Todabashi Fireworks Festival, on the opposite bank of the Arakawa River.

What happens?

The Itabashi Fireworks Festival began in the early 1950s after Tokyo’s Itabashi Ward and Saitama’s Toda Town redrew their boundary along the Arakawa River.

Together with the Toda-side display across the river, this festival lights up the sky with around 15,000 fireworks spread out over 90 minutes, including Itabashi’s famous Niagara Falls-style fireworks — and there should be some colorful characters and flower shapes in the mix.

Technically the festival is two fireworks shows in one — the Todabashi Fireworks Festival and the Itabashi Fireworks Festival — taking place on the opposite banks of the Arakawa River.

Where can I see the fireworks for free?

There are reserved seats and general sitting areas at the venue.

Free viewing is still possible, but it’s more limited than before. Areas that used to be free — including the hardball baseball ground, softball baseball ground and areas 14–17 — became paid unreserved seating in 2026, at ¥2,000 a head, and we expect that to continue.

The remaining free areas inside the venue will be on the upstream/west side only, including the upstream baseball ground, grass plaza and areas 1–4.

We suggest using Takashimadaira Station on the Toei Mita Line; from JR Ukima-Funado Station, it may take over one hour and 30 minutes to reach the free viewing areas.

Accessible seating is now ticket-based and requires an advance application through a dedicated Ticket Pia page. Use is free, but if there are too many applications, places will be allocated by lottery.

Applications for shuttle bus users follow the usual process, by postcard or LoGo Form.

Tickets

Tickets must be bought in advance. In 2026 they went on sale at 10 a.m. on June 6 for Itabashi Ward residents and June 13 for everyone else. Expect a similar timetable for the next edition.

Reserved seating ranges from around ¥4,500 for standard A seats to ¥6,000 for prime seats, with athletics stadium seating at ¥5,500. Group options are available, including box seats (4 people) from ¥18,000, and larger group seating (8 people) from around ¥36,000–¥48,000. Round-table seating in the athletics stadium is the priciest at ¥32,000 for four people.

All seats include a program and come with extras like tarps, cushions or cardboard chairs depending on the section. Preschool children can sit on a guardian’s lap for free. Note that you can’t choose your exact seat, and even if you book together, you might not be seated side by side.

Entry to paid seating opens from 5 p.m., and you’ll need a physical ticket — no screenshots allowed. Also worth noting: once you’re in, hold onto your ticket stub like your life depends on it, because you’ll need it to re-enter your seat after snack runs.

How to get there

The nearest stations are either Takashimadaira Station, Nishidai Station, or Hasune Station — all have around a 20-minute walk. The most convenient station may depend on where you want to sit. Check here for more information.

For the Toda Koen side, get off at Toda Koen Station and walk around 20 minutes to the river.