Anyone who’s been to a fireworks festival in Japan will know just how breathtaking it can be. With a variety of explosion patterns synchronised to music and displays that typically last around an hour, it’s one of the most unforgettable experiences you can have in the country. If you haven’t had the chance yet, don’t worry. Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan is giving you an opportunity to check this quintessential Japanese experience off your list.
So, try to time your Osaka Expo visit to coincide with the Japan Fireworks Expo, a monthly programme showcasing a fireworks festival from a different part of Japan. Each show lasts around five to ten minutes and spotlights a fireworks producer central to that festival. This means every display is completely one of a kind, created especially for that night, and tells a unique story rooted in history, tradition and local spirit.
The organisers, the Japan Fireworks Project, hope the event will not only introduce the world to Japan’s distinctive fireworks culture, but also help preserve this art form while highlighting the charm of some of the country’s lesser-known regions.
In April, the Japan Fireworks Expo featured the Ise Shrine Dedication National Fireworks Festival from Mie prefecture, and last month, it was Futaba Fireworks from Fukushima, a prefecture in the Tohoku region that is still recovering from the devastating 2011 earthquake. The latter, held on May 31, drew a record-breaking crowd of 180,000 spectators, who gathered to witness an awe-inspiring display of hope and resilience by Itoi Fireworks, a 150-year-old company central to the Futaba Fireworks tradition.
This month’s fireworks display is set for Saturday June 28, when the spotlight will be on the Omagari Fireworks Festival from Akita Prefecture. This will be a real treat, as Omagari is considered one of the three most prestigious competitive fireworks festivals in Japan.
After that, the Japan Fireworks Expo continues on July 21, July 23 (a special 20–30-minute show), August 23, September 27 and October 8.
For more information, visit the Japan Fireworks Expo website. And if you’d like to reserve special paid seating (such as viewing from a cruise), check out this dedicated site.
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