[Updated June 6, 2024] When will the Kumano Fireworks Festival 2024 be held? We will explain the highlights, parking, special train information, and more.

Article production / Tourism Mie Editorial Department

▼Table of contents

• What is Kumano Fireworks Festival?
• History of Kumano Fireworks Festival
• When is the Kumano Fireworks Festival held? From what time?
• About the time and location for securing a spot for the Kumano Fireworks Festival
• Highlights of Kumano Fireworks Festival
• About opening stalls etc.
• About access, traffic regulations, and parking to the Kumano Fireworks Festival
• By train
• By bus
• By car
• About parking lot
• About traffic regulations
• About special trains
• About soliciting donations for the Kumano Fireworks Festival

What is Kumano Fireworks Festival?

The Kumano Fireworks Festival is Kumano's biggest summer tradition, held every August, 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, which is attracting a lot of attention 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 1993 (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)!

Additionally, in November 2022, local residents and fireworks fans from all over the country will share their passionate thoughts such as ``I want Kumano to continue to be a fireworks town'' and ``we must not let Kumano's traditional fireworks culture die out.'' Fireworks events were held three weeks in a row from this idea.

In particular, KumanoCity Tourism Association's ``Fireworks Launch to Preserve the Continuation of Traditional Fireworks'' project was crowdfunded. As a result of the passion of fireworks fans from not only Mie Prefecture but all over the country, we collected approximately 17 million yen in donations, far exceeding our goal!

This is an episode that clearly shows that Kumano fireworks are loved by people all over the country!

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.

When is the Kumano Fireworks Festival held? From what time?

The dates and times for the Kumano Fireworks Festival have been decided as follows.

Date and time: Saturday, August 17, 2024, from 19:00 to 21:00
*Back-up days: August 18th (Sun), 22nd (Thurs), 28th (Wed)
If bad weather or other reasons make it difficult to hold the event as usual on the final reserve day, the event may be canceled or scaled down.

*Detailed information on the event can be found on KumanoCity Tourism Association official website.
*Real-time information such as parking rates in temporary parking lots can be checked from the Kumano Fireworks Festival update account.

About the time and location for securing a spot for the Kumano Fireworks Festival

We will announce when it will be possible to reserve spots for the Kumano Fireworks Festival as soon as it is decided.

You can check the areas where you can reserve a spot on KumanoCity Tourism Association website.

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

The fireworks are thrown one after another into the sea from a boat traveling at full speed. The sight of semicircular flowers blooming one after another on the sea is a spectacular sight.

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.

The impact of the fireworks is more like a roar than an explosion. Apparently, the windows of nearby houses were broken by the vibrations of the fireworks. This is an episode that really shows the size of the 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.

About opening stalls etc.

Regarding the opening of food stalls, etc., which I am interested in,
​There will be stalls and other stalls at this Kumano Fireworks Festival (planned)

We expect the surrounding restaurants and cafes to be very busy, so we recommend that you plan your trip with plenty of time to spare.

About access to the venue, parking lot, and traffic regulations

Most people can watch the Kumano Fireworks Festival at the nearby coast ShichiriMihamaBeach. You can also see the fireworks being launched at Onigajo!

By train

From Nagoya Station

Approximately 3 hours to KumanoCity Station by JR Limited Express "Nanki"

From Shin-Osaka Station

(1) The shortest route is around Mie Prefecture. Approximately 3 hours by JR Limited Express "Nanki" from JR Nagoya Station
(2) The route passing through Wakayama Prefecture is approximately 4 hours by JR Limited Express Kuroshio to Shingu Station, and approximately 40 minutes by local train from Shingu Station to KumanoCity Station.

*Times may vary greatly depending on train operating conditions and transfer status. Please see the times displayed here for reference only.
*The listed times are approximate. Please contact each railway company for detailed times and fares.

→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.

By bus

From Nagoya

Use Mie Kotsu (Nagoya Nanki Line). Approximately 4 hours from Nagoya Station (Meitetsu Bus Center)

from Tokyo

Use Mie Kotsu (Ikebukuro/Omiya Line). From JR Ikebukuro Station East Exit, it takes about 9 hours and 25 minutes to reach KumanoCity Station. From YCAT (Yokohama Station East Exit), it takes about 8 hours and 20 minutes.

*On the day of the fireworks event, there may be changes in operating areas or suspension of service.
*Due to traffic conditions, the bus may not be able to run on time.
*The listed times are approximate. For detailed times and prices, please contact each company using the link above.

By car

From Nagoya direction

Higashi-Meihan Expressway [Kameyama JCT] ⇒ Ise Expressway [Sewataki JCT] ⇒ Kisei Expressway [Kii nagashima IC] ⇒ Kumano-Owase Road [Owase Kita IC] ⇒ From Kumano-Odomari IC take National Route 42 towards KumanoCity

From the Osaka area

○ Via Meihan National Highway/National Route 25
Hanshin Expressway [Matsubara JCT] ⇒ Nishi-Meihan Expressway [Tenri IC] ⇒ Meihan National Highway [Iseseki IC] ⇒ Ise Expressway [Sewataki JCT] ⇒ Kisei Expressway [Kii nagashima IC] ⇒ Kumano-Owase Road [Owase Kita] IC】⇒From Kumano Odomari IC take National Route 42 towards Shingu City

○ Via Meishin Expressway
Hanshin Expressway [Toyonaka JCT] ⇒ Meishin Expressway [Kusatsu JCT] ⇒ Shin-Meishin Expressway [Kameyama JCT] ⇒ Ise Expressway [Sewataki JCT] ⇒ Kisei Expressway [Kii-nagashima IC] ⇒ Kumano-Owase Road [Owase Kita IC] ⇒ Kumano From Odomari IC, take National Route 42 towards Shingu City.

About parking lot

On the day of the fireworks display, some facilities within KumanoCity will be opened as temporary parking lots.

Details of the temporary parking lot will be announced as soon as they are decided. You can also check the KumanoCity Tourism Association website.
Information on the availability of temporary parking lots will be available from 6am on the day, Saturday, August 17th.

Additionally, if you use the parking lot, you will be required to pay a cleaning fee.
*2,000 to 3,000 yen. Varies depending on parking location.

About traffic regulations

On the day of the fireworks display, traffic restrictions will be in place on the Kumano-Owase Road heading south (towards Shingu).
We will inform you of the details as soon as they are decided.

About special trains

Due to the Kumano Fireworks Festival, special trains will be running during peak hours when congestion is expected.
Details such as timetables will be announced as soon as they are decided.

About soliciting donations for the Kumano Fireworks Festival

We are collecting donations to help preserve the traditional Kumano Fireworks Festival.

Operating a fireworks display requires a large amount of money, including the cost of launching fireworks and the cost of safety measures, and we have always relied on your support. In order to continue to maintain the traditional Kumano Fireworks Festival, it is necessary to support local fireworks vendors and maintain safe and secure event operations.

We would like to receive the support of as many people as possible and work together with everyone to hold a fireworks display.

We accept any amount from 1,000 yen per unit.

The donations received will be used to cover fireworks display costs and safety measures, etc. We ask for your support and cooperation in order to ensure the continuation of the traditional Kumano Fireworks Festival.

Click here to donate (transfers to an external link)

How was it

The Kumano Fireworks Festival is popular not only among locals, but also among people from inside and outside the prefecture. Why not blow away the summer heat with some spectacular fireworks?

Any decisions regarding the fireworks display or postponement will be posted on the KumanoCity Tourism Association website at 6am on the day of the display.