3 weeks in a row! Kumano fireworks festival will be held in November! Thorough explanation of access, stall opening, etc. [2022]

Article production / Tourism Mie Editorial Department

▼Table of contents

• What is Kumano Fireworks Festival?
• History of Kumano Fireworks Festival
• Highlights of Kumano Fireworks Festival
• In 2022, fireworks will be held for three consecutive weeks in November!
• Fireworks town Kumano tourism PR fireworks
• Fireworks for the continuation of traditional fireworks
• About opening stalls etc.
• About access to Kumano, traffic regulations, and parking

What is Kumano Fireworks Festival?

The Kumano Fireworks Festival is Kumano's biggest summer tradition, held on August 17th every year, with the World Heritage Onigajo in the background, and a spectacular fireworks display stretching out over the ocean. This is a fireworks festival that is extremely popular in Mie Prefecture, and is characterized by the sight of approximately 10,000 fireworks lighting up the World Heritage Site beautifully.

The Kumano Fireworks Festival has a long history of over 300 years, and is one of the best fireworks festivals in Mie Prefecture, both in name and reality, as it attracts approximately 170,000 fireworks fans from all over the country every year.

In this article, we will introduce the history and highlights of the Kumano Fireworks Festival, as well as the three consecutive weeks of fireworks that will be held as an alternative to the canceled event this summer.

History of Kumano Fireworks Festival

The Kumano Fireworks Festival, which boasts a history of more than 300 years, is said to have started with simple fireworks being set off as a memorial service for the first spirits of Obon, and the fireworks used to make lanterns.

In the Meiji period, fireworks makers began to compete for the beauty of their fireworks, and as they each improved their skills, the scale of the fireworks displays grew.

In 1932, one of the signature features of the Kumano Fireworks Festival, Onigajo Daigiku, appeared. In 1992 (Heisei 5), another synonym of the Kumano Fireworks Festival, ``Sanshakudama Maritime Suicide Bomb'', was held for the first time, and since then, the launch of the Seisanshakudama (1997) and the world's first Nishakudama It is a fireworks display that continues to evolve, such as the simultaneous suicide bombing of four balls at sea (1999)!

The Kumano Fireworks Festival has expanded in size over its long history, but even today, the program still includes its origins, such as toro-yaki for the first Bon festival and fireworks for the memorial service.

Highlights of Kumano Fireworks Festival

As I briefly mentioned in the history section earlier, there are two main highlights of the Kumano Fireworks Festival.
The first is "Maritime Suicide Destruction" and "Sanshakudama Maritime Suicide Destruction"
The second one is "Onigajo Daigiku".

I will explain the two major highlights!

Full of thrills! Fireworks vs ship chase! Maritime suicide bombing

Two ships running at full speed throw lit firework balls into the sea one after another. The sight of semicircular flowers blooming one after another on the sea is a sight to behold.

The way the sparks from the fireworks open right in front of the audience's eyes as if chasing a ship running at full speed is like watching a chase between fireworks and a ship...it's thrilling.

A huge semicircle appearing on the sea! Sanshakudama Maritime Suicide Destruction

A three-piece ball weighing 250 kg is placed on a steel raft floating off the coast of the Kumano Sea and detonated.
Please enjoy the impressive beauty that spreads over 600m in diameter.

If you ask me, its impact is more like a "roaring sound" than an explosive sound. The windows of nearby houses were reportedly broken by the vibrations from the fireworks. This is an episode that shows the size of fireworks.

Fireworks at a world heritage site, which is rare in Japan! Onigajo big trick

The finale of the Kumano Fireworks Festival is the Onigajo Fireworks, which uses the rocky area and caves of Onigajo, which is a World Heritage Site and a National Natural Monument of Scenic Beauty, to display fireworks.

The most powerful of all is the "Onigajo Daichi Bakudan" (large explosion), in which fireworks No. 8 to Nishaku-dama are placed directly on the rocky ground at Onigajo and explode directly, creating a powerful effect with the sound of the fireworks reflected off the rocky ground and echoing in the caves.

The exploding fireworks open in a fan shape, and a shock of sound and light shakes the entire venue. Be sure to come to the venue and experience the powerful fireworks that you won't be able to experience anywhere else.

In 2022, fireworks will be held for three consecutive weeks in November!

The Kumano Fireworks Festival leaves a strong impression on people with its intense roar and unique location, but due to the recent outbreak of the new coronavirus infection, the Kumano Fireworks Festival has been canceled for the third consecutive year since 2020.

As fireworks festivals across the country continue to be canceled and scaled back, fireworks companies are facing a decline in sales and, coupled with the soaring price of gunpowder, are facing a crisis of survival.

Due to these factors, people who were concerned that the image of Kumano as the city of fireworks was fading, decided to reiterate to everyone in the country that KumanoCity is a city of fireworks in preparation for the resumption of the Kumano Fireworks Festival next year. I stood up to let you know.

Kumano Tourism PR Fireworks (Sponsor: KumanoCity)

KumanoCity is concerned that the image of ``Kumano, the city of fireworks'' is fading as the Kumano Fireworks Festival continues to be canceled, so this fireworks project was planned to let people all over the country know about ``Kumano, the city of fireworks.''

This event will be held for two consecutive weeks in early November. The details are as follows.

【event date】
1st: Friday, November 4, 2022
2nd time: Friday, November 11, 2022

*Backup date in case of postponement due to stormy weather
Friday, December 2nd or Friday, December 9th

[Launch time]
Approximately 15 minutes from 18:30

[Launch location]
KumanoCity Kimoto Port Breakwater

Fireworks to preserve traditional fireworks (Sponsor: KumanoCity Tourism Association)

The KumanoCity Tourism Association raised funds through donations for the fireworks display, which was planned for the purpose of "supporting local fireworks businesses." The amount of donations collected from all over the country was approximately 16,600,000 yen (16,585,279) yen! (as of October 7th)

The goal, which was 15 million yen for the display, including the ``fireworks from Onigajo'' was greatly exceeded, and the result showed the passion for the Kumano Fireworks Festival from fireworks fans across the country.

The schedule and other details for "Fireworks to Preserve Traditional Fireworks" are as follows.

【event date】
Date: Friday, November 18, 2022

*Backup date in case of postponement due to stormy weather
Saturday, November 19th or Friday, November 25th

[Launch time]
"Fireworks from Onigajo" will be displayed for about 15 minutes from 18:30!

[Launch location]
KumanoCity Kimoto Town Onigajo /Kimoto Port Breakwater

Notes

These are common precautions for fireworks displays over a total of three days. In order to see the fireworks in Kumano next year and beyond, let's all follow the rules♪

About opening stalls etc.

Regarding the opening of food stalls, etc., which I am interested in,
​There will be no stalls or other stalls at this Kumano fireworks event.
​No eating or drinking is allowed inside the venue, except for minimal hydration.

The surrounding restaurants are also expected to be crowded, so we recommend that you schedule your time with plenty of time. Please use the map listed below for nearby restaurants.

About access to the venue, traffic regulations, and parking

Most people can see Kumano's fireworks at the nearby ShichiriMihamaBeach Beach. You can also see the fireworks being launched at Onigajo!

[Note] From the start to the end of the fireworks display, vehicle traffic on National Route 42 will have priority in Shishiiwa Karakihonmachi section, so if you are watching the fireworks, please be sure to cross the national highway before the start of the fireworks display!

public transport

・After getting off at KumanoCity Station on the JR Kisei Main Line, walk for about 5 minutes to reach ShichiriMihamaBeach. Please refer to the diagram below for access from the station.

*Please note that there are no JR special trains or buses. Please be sure to check the timetables as there are only a limited number of routes that run per hour for both Nagoya and Shingu!

private car

During the time before and after the fireworks are launched, it is not possible to enter or exit KumanoCity ⇔ National Route 42 in some areas. Also, vehicles may not be able to enter National Route 42 at some intersections, so please allow plenty of time!

There are 7 parking lots in total. Among them, Kimoto Elementary School has parking for up to 100 cars. When this parking lot is full, a larger parking lot will be opened.

Traffic regulations and parking are explained in detail in the drawing below, so be sure to check it out!

How was it

The three consecutive weeks of fireworks were made possible by the passionate desire of local residents and fireworks fans from all over the country to "never let the Kumano Fireworks Festival die out."

The fireworks will last for 15 minutes, but it will be very intense, and it will be a very emotional experience that is a little different from previous fireworks displays. I hope this fireworks will be a precious memory for those who watch it!

Decisions and postponements for both fireworks will be posted on the KumanoCity Tourism Association website on the morning of the day. You can also check detailed information.