[Updated on August 29th] When will the Kumano Fireworks Festival 2023 be held? We will explain things to see, parking lots, special train information, etc.

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
• Post a photo you took in KumanoCity and win great prizes!

The date for the Kumano Fireworks Festival has been decided as August 29th (Tuesday). Please check this page as it reflects the latest information such as special train operations.

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: August 29, 2023(Tuesday) 19:10~

*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

Space reservations for the Kumano Fireworks Festival will be released from 17:00 on Saturday, August 19th.

The event was originally scheduled to start at 17:00 on Sunday, August 13th, but the event was postponed due to the approach of a typhoon, so the event was rescheduled. The same applies to the rescheduled date of the 29th.

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

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 clearly 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.

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)

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, 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 in KumanoCity will be opened as temporary parking lots.

Please check the table below for the opening hours, expected full time, and number of parking spaces for the temporary parking lot.

Please note that due to the change in the fireworks festival schedule, parking lots P1 and P12, which are shown on the traffic control map, will not be available for use.
Additionally, if you use the parking lot, you will be required to pay a cleaning fee.
*2,000 yen or 3,000 yen. It depends on the location of the parking lot.

Click here for parking locations. (Transition to traffic regulation map.)

About traffic regulations

On the day of the fireworks display, there will be a ban on vehicle traffic in the city area surrounding the venue.

If you are coming by car, please check the traffic regulation map below to see where and when vehicles are prohibited, and make sure to follow the rules when coming to the venue. (Please refrain from parking on the street as this will cause major traffic jams.)

Due to the postponement of the Kumano Fireworks Festival, traffic restrictions on Kumano Owase Road (Owase Kita IC - Kumano Odomari IC) scheduled for August 17th will not be implemented. Please note that there will be no traffic restrictions on Kumano-Owase Road when the event is held on the postponed date of August 29th.

About special trains

In conjunction with the Kumano Fireworks Festival, special trains will be operated mainly during times when congestion is expected. Also, please note that some regular train schedules will change.

All trains on the special express train have reserved seats, and reserved seat express tickets go on sale from 7 a.m. on the day of the Kumano Fireworks Festival. The timetable is as follows.

Owase, nagashima, Taki, Tsu, Kameyama, IseCity, Nagoya area (up)

*Regular train operating times will be changed only on Tuesday, August 29th.

Shingu area (down)

*Regular train operating times will be changed only on Tuesday, August 29th.

About soliciting donations for the Kumano Fireworks Festival

We are currently collecting donations in preparation for the Kumano Fireworks Festival, which will be held for the first time in four years.

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)

Post a photo you took in KumanoCity and win great prizes!

In order to further utilize the city's many tourism resources, KumanoCity is holding the ``Bear Photo Rally 2023'' with the aim of discovering new tourist spots from a tourist perspective.

Eligible works can be anything that shows the uniqueness of KumanoCity, such as sightseeing spots, scenery, events, and food in KumanoCity. Of course, the Kumano Fireworks Festival is also included!

17 people will be randomly selected to win a side dish set of KumanoJidori(TheLocalBrandChicken), which is raised with great care in the magnificent nature of Kumano and has received high praise from many famous restaurants and top chefs! How to apply is easy! Just post on Instagram with a specific hashtag! For more information, please visit the special website below 👇

Click here for the bear photo rally special site

How was it

The Kumano Fireworks Festival is popular not only with local Kumano residents, but also with people both inside and outside the prefecture. It has been four years since the summer event was held. Would you like to blow away the summer heat with spectacular fireworks?

Decisions or postponements of fireworks will be posted on the KumanoCity Tourism Association website on the morning of the day.