What to do and see in Hokkaido, Japan: The Best Seasonal Fireworks

Held in Hakodate Port, an important transport hub connecting Hokkaido and Honshu with an excellent natural harbor, the Hakodate Port Fireworks is a dynamic fireworks show that makes the most of the location. From the 600-meter venue stretching along the waterfront from Toyokawa Pier to the Mashumaru Aomori-Hakodate Ferry Commemorative Museum, visitors can enjoy the art of astounding creative fireworks launched from up to five locations as they paint Hakodate's night sky with light and sound, including starmines, fireworks placed on the surface of the bay, and digitally linked wide-area star mines.

The name "Donpaku" comes from the booming "don" sound of blooming fireworks, and the Japanese word "paku-paku," expressing the sense of chomping enthusiastically on delicious food. As the name suggests, the main fireworks show is a magnificent program consisting of Niagara style fireworks crossing over the Kushiro River, a continuous series of launches, the largest sanjaku-dama display in Hokkaido, and more. Tons of food related events are also lined up, including approximately 100 food and beverage vendors participating in the Kushiro Suehiro Hashigo Sake Festival, and the popular Kushiro Oh! Sakana Festival, where fresh catches of mackerel and squid are up for sale, and huge tuna are broken down for sale before your eyes.

This is one of the largest fireworks shows in the country, combining fireworks, illumination, special effects, and music. In recent years, both the program and its audience have become bigger and more diverse. The grand finale includes sequential launches lasting more than 10 minutes, followed by a magnificent climax of a nishiki-kamuro completely filling the night sky. The Kachimai began in 1929, when the first president of the Tokachi Mainichi Shimbun called on local business leaders to put on Hokkaido's very first fireworks display in the city of Obihiro. The tradition saw interruptions over the years due to war and other factors, but in 1956 it was revived as part of the Obihiro Peace Festival. The show is now held on August 13th every year at a dedicated site downstream from the Tokachi Ohashi Bridge.

The Tokachi River in Obihiro, Hokkaido is home to many fireworks displays. The Doshin Tokachi River Fireworks are held every year in early August as summer comes to a close in Obihiro. Highlights of the show include the national fireworks collection, a giant sphere, and brilliantly colored starmines. The continuous drumming of explosions coloring the heavens is especially impressive. The show is sponsored by the Obihiro branch of the Hokkaido Shimbun. Traffic is highly restricted on the day of the celebration and there is no parking near the grounds, so visitors should definitely consider using public transportation.

Held since 1947, the Muroran Port Festival is Muroran's largest summer event. The Noryo Fireworks light up the first night of the event every year. Around 2,000 star mines and other fireworks are launched from the water off the Muroran Port Ferry pier, collaborating with the night view of the port to thrill the crowd. Starting on the second day, there is the Muroran Nerikomi, in which participating groups shoulder elaborate portable shrines and festival floats and parade through the town, a parade by local citizens dancing to a song called Muroran Bayashi, and many entertaining stage events, such as shows and games.

This fireworks display in Kushiro is one of the most popular in all of Hokkaido. Approximately 8,000 fireworks are launched from the banks of the New Kushiro River is this incredible six-part program that includes an amazing Niagara that traverses 600m, giant sphere starmines, sequential launches, rapid drumming explosions, and musical fireworks. The lights reflecting on the surface of the river are beautiful and magical. The main assembly grounds are upstream from the Tottori Bridge on the New Kushiro River and the green park on the right bank, and there are also some spots where you can view the fireworks from directly below.